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CR61111210

UU8M12 Book of prayers:

MAP ! I I1

3 Poofe of drapers

* *

& poofc of 5Praperg

FOR PUBLIC AND

PERSONAL USE

SAMUEL McCOMB, M. A., D. D.

Author of "Christianity and the Modern Mind," etc.

Co-Author of " Religion and Medicine "

- X KA«

NEW YORK

JBobb, ffltsto ana Compart?

1912

* *

Copyright, 1912.

By Dodd, Mead & Co.

Published, February, 1912.

Mil

6130

3fa iWemoriam

3T. C. 4HcC

fft /«»/, qui 'venerunt de tribulatione

magna, et lawerunt stolas suas, et deal-

baverunt eas in sanguine Agni.

8 3Book of draper?

preface

^I^HIS little book, it is hardly

MU necessary to say, is not offered

as a substitute for any of the existing

forms of devotion. On the contrary,

it presupposes the use of these forms,

and claims only to supplement them,

as far as may be. The collects of the

Book of Common Prayer, owing to

their stateliness of style, their concise

ness of expression, and a certain

archaic literary flavour, are especially

adapted to the needs of public

liturgical worship. But these same

qualities make them less suited for

personal or family or informal use.

Moreover each age is conscious of

peculiar trials and problems, and

must express this consciousness in its

own words. Not only must each

generation win the truth for itself,

but the truth so won must touch

deeply the springs of its religious life,

[vii]

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and in this way must influence its

devotional feeling. There are signs

that both inside and outside the

Church a revival of belief in prayer

is making itself felt and demands

outward expression. Especially in

two directions is this revival at work.

There is the ever-present social

problem, which in our time has

assumed a new sharpness and insist

ence. A social passion is taking

captive many noble hearts. Hence

modern prayer must become more

and more steeped in the sense of

human fellowship. The other prob

lem, old but ever new, is that of

moral and physical evil. The modern

man is more keenly sensitive to pain

and suffering than his forerunners.

There are facts of experience, which

must not be thought on save in the

spirit of prayer, else they may turn

the soul to despair. As the human

mind develops in fineness and keen

ness of vision, it can be saved from

I viii ]

3 Itarit of drapers

pessimism only through the conviction

that God is not the source of evil,

physical or moral, but that He is

eternally using His energies to oppose

and overcome it. Our views of God,

of evil, of human nature, and of

human destiny, cannot but be reflected

in our prayers.

It is hoped that this book may, in

some degree, meet the needs of those

who desire to pray, and yet for

various reasons, are hindered hi the

art of self-expression.

[ix]

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Contents

$art Jftart

GENERAL PRAYERS .... 1-130

$art jfeecottb

INTERCESSORY AND PERSONAL

PRAYERS

PAGE

FOR A PERSON WHO CANNOT PRAY. I33

FOR A PERSON WHO DESIRES FAITH 1 35

FOR A PERSON TROUBLED WITH EVIL

THOUGHTS 137

FOR A VICTIM OF FEAR I39

FOR A VICTIM OF WORRY I4I

FOR A PERSON SUFFERING FROM

NEURASTHENIA I43

FOR A PERSON SUFFERING FROM

INSOMNIA I45

FOR A PERSON SUFFERING FROM

DEPRESSION 147

FOR A PERSON THREATENED WITH

INSANITY I49

FOR A PERSON STRIVING TO OVER

COME THE ALCOHOL HABIT . . IS I

FOR THE INSANE I53

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FACE

FOR A PERSON HAUNTED WITH THE

FEAR OF COMMITTING SUICIDE 1 56

FOR A PERSON WHO FEARS THAT IN

DYING HE WILL LOSE A SENSE

OF PERSONAL IDENTITY. ... 158

FOR A PERSON SUFFERING FROM A

SERIOUS ILLNESS l6o

FOR A SICK CHILD 163

FOR A PERSON ABOUT TO UNDERGO

A SURGICAL OPERATION. . . . 1 65

FOR A PERSON SUFFERING FROM

ACUTE BODILY PAIN 167

FOR A PERSON AT THE POINT OF DEATH 1 69

FOR AN INCURABLY CRIPPLED CHILD 171

FOR A PERSON SUFFERING FROM A

SENSE OF LONELINESS .... I73

FOR A PERSON HAUNTED WITH THE

FEAR OF HAVING COMMITTED

THE UNPARDONABLE SIN . . . 175

FOR A WOMAN BURDENED WITH

DOMESTIC CARES 1 77

FOJR PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST A

CHILD BY DEATH I79

IN REMEMBRANCE OF DEPARTED

FRIENDS l8l

FOR CHILDREN 183

FOR A MOTHER GRIEVING FOR A

WAYWARD CHILD 1 85

111

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PAGE

FOR THE AGED 187

FOR THE POOR 1 89

FOR THE PROSPEROUS I9I

FOR PRISONERS 193

FOR DOCTORS OF MEDICINE .... I96

FOR NURSES I98

FOR STUDENTS 200

FOR TEACHERS 202

FOR HANDWORKERS 204

FOR MINISTERS OF RELIGION . . . 207

FOR MISSIONARIES 209

FOR FRIENDS ON A JOURNEY ... 211

THANKSGIVING FOR RESTORATION TO

HEALTH 213

THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY OVER A

BAD HABIT 215

FOR PERSONAL USE

AT NIGHT. (THREE PRAYERS) . . 219

IN THE MORNING. (FOUR PRAYERS) 222

IN TIME OF TEMPTATION 226

IN TIME OF SUFFERING1 227

BEFORE PARTAKING AT HOLY COM

MUNION 228

AFTER PARTAKING AT HOLY COM

MUNION 23O

$art Jfitxt

GENERAL PRAYERS

Af^?aft father toho art in H?eaben,

Xis i^allotoeb Be €hn name, €hn

Jtingbom come. €hp toitt be bone

on earth, a^ it is in ^eaben. <aBibe

ng this ban our bail? breab. 5tnb

forgibe u$ our tresspasses?, a#

toe forgibe thoge toho trejafjja^fiee

against u& 3Unb leab u$ not into

temptation, but beliber us from

ebn\ for Chine is the feingbom,

anb the notoer, anb tfje gtorp, for

eber anb eber. Amen.

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AC* THOU, who didst lay the

KP^ foundations of the earth

amid the singing of the morning

stars and the joyful shouts of the

sons of God, lift up our little life

into Thy gladness. Out of Thee,

as out of an overflowing fountain

of Love, wells forth eternally a

stream of blessing upon every

creature Thou hast made. If we

have thought that Thou didst call

into being this universe in order

to win praise and honour for Thy

self, rebuke the vain fancies of

our foolish minds and show us

that Thy glory is the joy of giving.

We can give Thee nothing of our

own. All that we have is Thine.

Oh, then, help us to glorify Thee by

striving to be like Thee. Make us

just and pure and good as Thou

g Poofe of drapers

art. May we be partakers of the

Divine Nature, so that all that is

truly human in us may be deep

ened, purified, and strengthened.

And so may we be witnesses for

Thee, lights of the world, reflect

ing Thy light.

Help us to make religion a

thing so beautiful that all men

may be won to surrender to its

power. Let us manifest in our

lives its sweetness and excellency,

its free and ennobling spirit. For

bid that we should go up and

down the world with melancholy

looks and dejected visage, lest we

should repel men from entering

Thy Kingdom. Rather, may we

walk in the freedom and joy of

faith, and with Thy new song in

our mouths, so that men looking

on us may learn to trust and to

love Thee.

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We come to Thee, our Father,

that we may more deeply enter

into Thy joy. Thou turnest dark

ness into day, and mourning into

praise. Thou art our Fortress in

temptation, our Shield in remorse,

our Covert in calamity, our Star of

Hope in every sorrow. O Lord,

we would know Thy peace, deep,

abiding, inexhaustible. When we

seek Thy peace, our weariness is

gone, the sense of our imperfec

tion ceases to discourage us, and

our tired souls forget their pain.

When, strengthened and refreshed

by Thy goodness, we return to the

task of life, send us forth as serv

ants of Jesus Christ in the service

and redemption of the world.

Send us to the hearts without love,

to men and women burdened, with

heavy cares, to the miserable,

the sad, the broken-hearted. Send

[5]

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us to the children whose heritage

has been a curse, to the poor who

doubt Thy Providence, to the sick

who crave for healing and cannot

find it, to the fallen for whom no

man cares. May we be ministers

of Thy mercy, messengers of Thy

helpful pity, to all who need Thee.

By our sympathy, our prayers, our

kindness, our gifts, may we make

a way for the inflow of Thy love

into needy and loveless lives. And

so may we have that love which

alone is the fulfilling of Thy law.

Hasten the time when all men

shall love Thee and one another

in Thee, when all the barriers that

divide us shall be broken down,

and every heart shall be filled with

joy and every tongue with melody.

These gracious gifts we ask, in

Jesus' name. Amen.

[6]

a Pool of priperi

II

,Jt% INFINITE Source of life

Vl/ and health and joy! the

very thought of Thee is so wonder

ful that in this thought we would

rest and be still. Thou art Beauty

and Grace and Truth and Power.

Thou art the light of every heart

that sees Thee, the life of every

soul that loves Thee, the strength

of every mind that seeks Thee.

From our narrow and bounded

world we would pass into Thy

greater world.. From our petty

and miserable selves we would

escape to Thee, to find in Thee

the power and the freedom of a

larger life. It is our joy that we

can never go beyond Thy reach;

that even were we to take the

wings of the morning, and fly unto

the uttermost parts of the earth,

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or were we to make our bed in

hell, there should we find signs

of Thy presence and Thy power.

Wherever we may go Thou art

with us, for Thou art in us as

well as without us. We recognise

Thee in all the deeper experiences

of the soul. When the conscience

utters its warning voice, when

the heart is tender and we forgive

those who have wronged us in

word or deed, when we feel our

selves upborne above time and

place, and know ourselves citizens

of Thy everlasting Kingdom, we

realise, O Lord, that these things,

while they are in us, are not of

us. They are Thine, the work

of Thy Spirit brooding upon our

souls.

Spirit of Holiness and Peace!

Search all our motives; try the

secret places of our souls; set in

[8]

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the light any evil that may lurk

within, and lead us in the way

everlasting. Take possession of

our bodies. Purge them from

feebleness and sloth, from all un

worthy self-indulgence, that they

may not hinder, but help the per

fection of our spirits. Take pos

session of our wills that they

may be one with Thine, that

soul and body may no longer

war against each other, but live

in perfect harmony, in holiness

and health. May we be willing

to cut off the right hand, or pluck

out the right eye, if only we may

feel Thy life pulsing within us,

and share the blessedness of all

good and pious men. Wake us

as from the sleep of death, and

inspire us with new resolves, and

keep us' blameless in body, soul

and spirit, now and ever. Let

[9]

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Thy light fill our hearts more and

more, until we shall become in

truth the children of light, and

perfectly at one with Thee, through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[10]

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III

Ap% GOD, our Refuge and our

\r Strength! Thou art so high

that the very Heaven of Heavens

cannot contain Thee, yet dost

Thou dwell with him that is

of a contrite and humble spirit.

Everywhere Thou art seeking the

wandering, those who have for

gotten the warnings of parent and

teacher and friend, who have de

spised the oracles of conscience,

and are now sore pierced with

the thorns of earth. Thou dost

not despair when Thou findest us

degraded and miserable in our

sin, but bringest us forgiveness

and hope. We are overwhelmed,

O Lord, with wonder, to think

that Thou dost believe in us, and

wilt not let us go. From the

pleasures of sin, from the torment

UNION

[ii]

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of guilt, from poverty and blighted

hopes and ill-requited love, we

turn to Thee, our Father, for

comfort and satisfaction. Make

clear to us how the evils of the

soul war against our happiness

and health, how we are so fear

fully and wonderfully made that

not a wrong thought, or base desire,

or strained emotion, but leaves

its mark upon our bodies. Take

possession of us, and so inspire us

with great thoughts and noble

aspirations and unselfish feelings,

that our bodies may become fit

temples for the habitation of Thy

good Spirit. So occupy us with

self-forgetting service for Thee that

no time or strength may remain

for our besetting sins. Lay upon

us the burdens of the weak, the

crosses of other lives. Are any

sick? Let us bring to them help

[12]

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and good cheer, and, if it may be,

some gift of healing. Are there

any naked and hungry? Let us

clothe and feed them. Are there

any sad and depressed? Give to

us the insight and the sympathy,

in the presence of which the

burdened heart will be eased and

the darkened'mind illumined. Are

there any remorseful and despair

ing? Speak to them through us,

as Thine organs, and say, " I am

thy salvation." Thus may the

fires of a Christlike charity burn

with a steady flame within us,

and thus may our souls be kept

pure and fresh and strong. O true

and holy Light, that lightenest

every man, shine into these hearts

of ours that we may hold converse

with the sinful, yet contract no

stain; that we may share the

pleasures and mingle in the noise

[13]

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and dust of life, yet keep our gar

ments unspotted from the world.

Forgive us that we have sinned

so often against those around us,

by failing to draw near to them

and to understand them, by want

of pity for their trials and sorrows,

by passing on our heedless way,

with no ear for the still, sad voices

of weary and laden souls. Hence

forth let us arm ourselves with the

mind that was in Christ Jesus,

who came not to be ministered

unto, but to minister, and to give

His life a ransom for many. Let

the glory of His Cross be the

inspiration of all our thought and

service, that suffering with Him

here, we may reign with Him

hereafter. Hear us and answer

us, for His sake. Amen.

[14]

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IV

yJ^REAT is Thy name, 0 God,

Vx^ and greatly to be praised.

In Thee all our discordant notes

rise into perfect harmony. It is

good for us to think of the

wonder of Thy being. Thou

art most silent, yet most

strong; unchangeable, yet ever

changing; ever working, yet ever

at rest, supporting, nourishing,

maturing all things. 0 Thou

Eternal Spirit, who hast set our

noisy years in the heart of Thy

eternity, lift us above the power

and evils of the passing time, that

under the shadow of Thy wings

we may take courage and be glad.

So great art Thou, beyond our

utmost imagining, that we could

not speak to Thee didst Thou not

first draw near to us and say, " Seek

[15]

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ye my face." Unto Thee our

hearts would make reply, "Thy

face, Lord, will we seek." And

when we look up to Thee, the

words of our lips are words of

humility and thanksgiving. Who

or what are we that Thou shouldst

follow us with goodness and mercy

all the days of life? We thank

Thee for our birth into a Christian

community, for the Church and the

Sacraments of Thy grace, for the

healing day of rest, when we enter

with Thy people into Thy House

and there make holyday; for the

refreshment of soul, the joys of

communion, the spiritual disci

pline, the inspiration of prayer

and hymn and sermon. We thank

Thee for Thy watchful care over

body and soul alike. Thou hast

kept our eyes from tears, or, if

the tears came, Thine own hand

[16]

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wiped them away. Thou hast kept

our feet from falling, or if we fell,

Thou didst not forsake us, but

guided us back to the holy paths

of Christ. We praise Thee for

the myriad influences of good,

conscious and unconscious, that

have been about us, deeply pen

etrating our inner life, shaping

and fitting us for Thy Kingdom.

Thou hast indeed forgiven all

our iniquities, and healed all our

diseases, and redeemed our life

from destruction, and crowned us

with loving-kindness. Therefore

would we call upon our souls, and

all that is within us, to bless Thy

holy Name.

We remember with sadness our

want of faith in Thee. What

might have been a garden we

have turned into a desert by our

sin and wilfulness. This beautiful

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life which Thou hast given us

we have wasted in futile worries

and vain regrets and empty fears.

Instead of opening our eyes to

the joy of life, the joy that shines

in the leaf, the flower, the face of

an innocent child, and rejoicing

in it as in a sacrament, we have

sunk back into the complainings

of our narrow and blinded souls.

O deliver us from the bondage

of unchastened desires and un

wholesome thoughts. Help us to

conquer hopeless brooding and

faithless reflection, and the im

patience of irritable weakness. To

this end, increase our faith, O

Lord. Fill us with a completer

trust in Thee, and the desire for a

more whole-hearted surrender to

Thy will. Then every sorrow

will become a joy. Then shall we

say to the mountains that lie

[18]

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heavy on our souls, "Remove

and be cast hence," and they shall

remove, and nothing shall be im

possible unto us. Then shall we

renew our strength, and mount

up with wings as eagles; we shall

run and not be weary; we shall

walk and not faint. We offer this

prayer in the name of Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

[19]

gj jtoofc of Brggegf

£JLMIGHTY and Everlasting

<*^- God, whom no man hath

seen at any time, who art Spirit

and the Father of our spirits,

unto Thee do we come. When we

think of Thee we are troubled, for

we know we have not surrendered

ourselves to Thy service, which is

our highest good; yet we are

drawn to Thee, and we say with

one of old, "Thou hast made us

for Thyself, and our hearts are

restless till they find rest in Thee."

Bring us at this time into Thy

banqueting-house, and may Thy

banner over us be Love. We

would tell Thee all our wants, our

sorrows and our sins, that out of

the fullness of Thy grace we may

receive healing and forgiveness.

We lament our desires covetous

[20]

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of worldly things, the coldness of

our affections, the prayerlessness

of our lives, the want of relish for

Thy law. Forgive us all that our

resolves to lead the higher life

have been so easily broken, and

grant us true repentance, that

henceforth we may build our lives

on the abiding foundation of Thy

holy will, as it is revealed in Jesus

Christ. Cause us to walk in the

paths of purity and sincerity, to

renounce the hidden things of dis

honesty, and to have no fellow

ship with the works of darkness.

We pant for a purer air, a wider

space. 0 God, lead us out of the

twilight of our own dark, narrow

souls into Thy glorious light, that

we may be the children, not of the

night, but of the day. Strengthen

us, that we may finish the work

Thou hast given us to do. Com

[21]

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fort us in the troubles that wait

upon our earthly lot. Guide us

through the shadows of time into

Thy blessed eternity.

We invoke Thy blessing upon all

who need Thee, and who are

groping after Thee, if haply they

may find Thee. Be gracious to

those who bear the sins of others,

who are vexed by the wrong

doing and selfishness of those near

and dear to them, and reveal to

them the glory of their fellow

ship with the sufferings of Christ.

Brood in tenderness over the

hearts of the anxious, the miser

able, the victims of phantasmal

fears and morbid imaginings. Re

deem from slavery the men and

women who have yielded to de

grading habits. Put Thy Spirit

within them, that they .may rise

up in shame and sorrow and make

[22]

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confession to Thee, "So brutish

was I, and ignorant: I was as a

beast before Thee." And then let

them have the glad assurance

that Thou art with them, the

secret of all good, the promise and

potency of better things. Console

with Thy large consolation, those

who mourn for their loved dead,

who count the empty places and

long for the sound of a voice that

is still. Inspire them with the

firm conviction that the dead are

safe in Thy keeping, nay, that

they are not dead, but live unto

Thee. Give to all sorrowing ones

a garland for ashes, the oil of joy

for mourning, and the garment of

praise for the spirit of heaviness.

Remember for good all who are

perplexed with the mysteries of

existence, and who grieve because

the world is so sad and unin

[23]

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telligible. Teach them that Thy

hand is on the helm of affairs,

that Thou dost guide Thine own

world, and canst change every

dark cloud into bright sunshine.

In this faith let them rest, and by

this faith let them live. These

blessings we ask in the name

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ. Amen.

[24]

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VI

rERNAL God, rise with Thy

morning upon our souls,

and call us to consecrate another

day to Thy service. We thank

Thee for rest and sleep, and for

Thy watchful care throughout the

hours of darkness. Thou hast

been as a wall of fire about our

home, and Thyself the glory in

the midst. Thou dost care for

each one of us, as if Thou didst

care for him only, and for all as

if they were but one. We would

commit our ways to Thee afresh.

Sustain us amid all our work, and

solve the problems of our life that

are too hard for us. May we be

strong in the faith that all things

work together for good to them

that love Thee. O God, our

allotted time is as the passing of

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a shadow. Our life vanishes away

even as a mist is scattered before

the burning beams of the sun.

Without Thee we cannot live and

dare not die. Draw us into fellow

ship with Thy mind and will, that,

renouncing the vain things which

in times past have charmed, we

may yield ourselves unreservedly

to Thee, that Thou mayst use us to

advance Thy cause and Kingdom

in the world. Send forth Thy

Spirit into our hearts to quicken

us with fresh zeal and devout

aspiration, to rouse us to renewed

struggle against the evil that is

within and without us. We re

joice in the message which Jesus

Christ, Thy Son, has brought us,

which tells us of Thy self-sacrifice,

in surrendering Him to death that

we might win the blessedness for

which we were created. When in

[26]

g &oak of Ihrapera

the misery and confusion of our

guilt we shrink before the look of

Thy holiness, it is His voice that

speaks the word which comforts,

"I will not pray the Father for

you, for the Father himself loveth

you." When conscious of our un

faithfulness to higher aims, and

yet craving the freedom of a

larger life, it is His Spirit that

streams into our hearts, to clear

our inward vision, and to set us in

the power of Thy redemption.

Let Jesus Christ be born anew in

our hearts, and then we will be

drawn to Thee with the cords of

a man, with the bands of love,

and henceforth we will run in

the way of Thy commandments,

counting none of them grievous.

We pray for those who love us,

and for those who, it may be, dis

like us. Take from us any evil

S3 Poofe of drapers

thing that hinders the flow of love

from soul to soul. Pour upon us

the spirit of brotherhood, in the

strength of which we may bear each

other's burdens, and cover with a

mantle of charity our brother's

weakness. If any are estranged

from us, do Thou pluck out of their

hearts and ours any root of bitter

ness, and unite us again in the

bonds of mutual affection. If any

are irritable, or weak, or nervous,

give us a spirit of unwearied for

bearance, that we may be to them a

source of strength and poise and

self-control. As we go among our

fellows, may we ever manifest a

patient temper, a kind and happy

spirit, a love that beareth all things,

endureth all things, believeth all

things. These blessings we ask in

the name of Jesus Christ Thy Son

our Lord. Amen.

[28]

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m

VII

fOST merciful God, Power of

our souls, Healer of our

diseases, unto Thee would we

come. Amid the haste and hurry

of common life Thou seemest to

pass away. Amid the cares and

anxieties and all the turmoil of

our inner mind we cannot hear

Thee knocking at the door, seek

ing to enter and to bless. But

now would we quiet our souls

before Thee; now would we feel

ourselves enwrapped with Thy

unspeakable presence, and know

Thee as the joy and strength of

life. Quicken Thou our faith and

hope and aspiration, that we may

be upborne above all unrest and

irritation, and be made sharers

in Thy perfect calm. Lengthen

these moments of prayer, we

[29]

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beseech Thee, until our whole

life becomes a continual aspiration

after Thee.

Father of all mercies! God of

all comfort! we bring before Thee

the record of our lives, stained

with the memories of sin and

failure. Be patient with us, for if

Thou turn Thy face from us, we

are lost. Cast us not from Thy

presence, and take not Thy Holy

Spirit from us. Call us back to the

right and holy path,Thou Shepherd

of our souls. Place upon us once

more Thy blessed yoke; set us

face to face with our unaccom

plished tasks, and we will prove

our penitence by the constancy of

our wills in the strength of Thy

forgiving grace. Give unto us

what Thou commandest, and then

command what Thou wilt.

Here would we remember be

[30]

9 Poott of drapers:

fore Thee the wants and sorrows

of our fellows. Have mercy, we

entreat Thee, upon any who are

entangled in earthly things, who

it may be, have given up all hope

of the higher life. Leave them

not to themselves, but waken

them to the vanity of all that

is temporal, that they may find

satisfaction only in the things

that are eternal. Be present with

Thy help to the tempted. By

some sweet memory or dear affec

tion reinforce the powers of the

soul, that the mind may think

only of what is fair and lovely and

of good report, and the will re

sist to the uttermost the assaults

of wrong. Unto those, O God,

who feel the pain and darkness

and mystery of life, let the Sun

of Righteousness arise with heal

ing in His wings. Remember in

[31]

8 Hook of Uraperg

pity, the sick, the distressed of

body or of mind. Many and

great are the disorders of our

mortal nature, but Thy medicines

are mightier. Open the souls of

all who lie in beds of weariness to

the inflow of Thy Divine Life.

In the silence may they hear Thy

voice saying, "I have heard thy

prayer, I have seen thy tears,

behold, I will heal thee." For

the burden-bearers, the tempest-

tossed, the afflicted and not com

forted, we pray. Thy consolations

are greater than all the sorrows of

the world. Bind up the broken-

. hearted, and with Thy touch heal

those wounds of the soul that

bleed and will not cease. Give

a spirit of endurance and of trust

to those whose thorn in the flesh

must remain. Save them from

despair, from the indifference of a

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heart without faith, and perfect

Thy strength in their weakness.

Comfort all men everywhere with

Thy light, and guide them by Thy

Spirit, for Jesus Christ's sake.

Amen.

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VIII

r'ERNAL God, lead us into

the blessedness of the mys

tery of communion with Thee.

Bow our spirits in deepest rever

ence before Thee, yet uplift us

into a sense of kinship. Send the

spirit of Thy Son into our hearts,

crying "Abba, Father," that all

unworthy fear may be banished

by the gladness of Thy perfect

love. Thy love is like the

luminous heaven, receiving only

to purify the foulest breath of

earth. Thy gentleness is like the

sun, seeking to cheer and warm

the chilled hearts of men. Touch

us, O our Father, with a feeling

of Thy great realities, for though

our thought about Thee is better

than our words, our experience of

Thee is better than our thought.

[34]

8 Poofe of drapers

Bestow upon us, we beseech

Thee, the grace for which we

severally crave. Troubles over

whelm the heart: lead us to the

rock that is higher than we.

Doubts assail us. Give us a

supreme trust that will not let

Thee go, until the day break and

the shadows flee away. We are

unstable, easily moved by ex

ternal circumstance. Strengthen

us that we may play the man,

and in Thy might grant us to

gain dominion over the world.

Our hearts are sad, thinking, as

we do, of dear ones, so tenderly

loved, but now taken from us,

or of living griefs that will not

heal. Wipe Thou our tears away.

O God of hope! save us from de

spair. Thou bringest the dead

out of the living and the living

out of the dead. Come and work

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3 3Boofe of drapers

Thy wonders in the hearts of

those who grieve and wound us

and cause us to drink of bitter

tears, that sorrow may flee away

and our mouth be filled with

laughter and our tongue with

singing.

We entreat Thee, O Lord, to

remember us in our daily work.

Let us do it heartily, as unto Thee,

and not as unto men. Grant that

our tasks may be congenial to us;

that we may give ourselves wholly

to them. Consecrate all our

powers of body and mind to Thy

service. Give us enthusiasm, a

fervent spirit, a cheerful, hopeful

temper, so that we may do our

work with ease and self control,

not with idle worry, or fruitless

fear. Let us not think too much

of our rights, but always of our

duties, and when we have done

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all, then let us say, "We are un

profitable servants." And when

Thou drawest the curtain of night

upon our labour, give us the sweet

gift of sleep. All this we ask for

Jesus' sake. Amen.

[37]

& Jloofe of drapers

IX

ff£% LORD, our God, we de-

X&r sire to feel Thee near us in

spirit and in body at this time.

We know that in Thee we live

and move and have our being,

but we are cast down and easily

disquieted, and we wander in many

a sad wilderness where we lose

the conscious experience of Thy

presence. Yet the deepest yearn

ing of our hearts is unto Thee.

As the hart panteth after the

waterbrooks, so pant our souls

after Thee, O God. Nothing less

than Thyself can still the hunger,

or quench the thirst with which

Thou hast inspired us. Power of

our souls! enter Thou into them

and fit them for Thyself, making

them pure with Christ's purity,

loving and lovable with His love.

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As we feel Thy presence we

know we are not what we ought

to be. Help us to bring into

the clear light of the mind what

ever evil lurks within, that the

conscience may be aroused to

lift up its voice and spare not.

Pardon the sins of the inner life.

Forgive the unbelief that is ever

loosening our hold upon Thy su

preme realities; the shortsighted

ness that ever stays our vision

upon things temporal and mate

rial; the pride of spirit or of

intellect that wars against all

loveliness and grace; the cold

ness of heart that never melts

into humility, and is never warmed

into self-sacrifice. 0 God, pity

us. Leave us not to our loveless,

lifeless ways. Let the chaff within

us be blown away by the breath of

Thy judgment, and let the wheat

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M iSoofe of drapers

be garnered by the varied minis

tries of Thy grace! Let our

dreary wastes blossom once more,

and let our wilderness be as the

garden of the Lord!

In the multitude of our own

wants, we would not forget the

wants of others. Look upon those

who especially need Thy comfort.

Be present in Thy consoling pity

with those who grieve because

death has robbed them of loved

ones, who weep for a sunshine that

never returns. Let them realise

that the realms of death and life

alike are Thine. Solace all that

mourn with a grief that saps the

mind and breaks the heart, and

grant them to believe that though

weeping may endure for a night, joy

cometh in the morning. For those

who are anxious and overstrained,

laden with burdens which are not

[40]

& JSoott of draper?

of Thy sending, we beseech Thy

heavenly benediction. Give them

freedom of heart, peace of con

science, the rest of lying still in

Thy hands, the joy of surrender

ing all their cares to Thee, who

carest for every creature Thou hast

made. Whatever be the need or

the desire, do Thou supply it ac

cording to the riches of Thy grace

in glory by Christ Jesus. Amen.

[41]

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Af\ GOD, Thou hast found us,

Kir and not we Thee. At times

we but dimly discern Thee; the

dismal mists of earth obscure Thy

glory. Yet in other and more

blessed moments, Thou dost rise

upon our souls, and we know Thee

as the Light of all our seeing, the

Life of all that is not dead within

us, the Bringer of health and cure,

the Revealer of peace and truth.

We will not doubt our better

moments, for in them Thou dost

speak to us. We rejoice that

Thou hast created us in Thine

image. Thy Love has stirred

us into being, has endowed us

with spiritual substance. In

the intellect, whose thoughts wan

der through eternity; in the con

science that bears witness to

& Jloofc of drapers!

Thy eternal righteousness; in the

affections that make life sweet,

and reach forth to Thee, 0 Lover

of Mankind— in these, we are

made heirs to the riches of Thy

grace. And when we wandered

from Thee into the far country,

and there wasted our substance,

Thou didst not forsake us. Thy

love followed after us and would

not let us go, and compelled us

to return. We praise Thee that

in the advent of Thy dear Son,

all that Thou art has become

visible to faith. His passion

has become our deliverance, His

wounds our healing, His Cross

our redemption, His death our

life. Make us one with Him in

faith and penitence, that as He

died, so we may die unto sin,

that as He rose again triumphant

over wrong and shame and

& 3Boofe of drapers

despair, so we may rise with Him

into newness of life.

Our Father be with us, we pray

Thee, not only in the great mo

ments of experience, but also in

the trivial round, the common

task. Make us children of quiet

ness and heirs of peace. Grant

that we may go among our fellows

with cheerful, kindly faces, ever

lenient to their faults, ever glad

to praise their virtues. Help us

to control our tempers, and to be

kindly affectioned one towards

another. Wherever we see need

or distress, may we be ready to

help, counting it our joy to bear

another's burdens, and so fulfil

the law of Christ. Save us from

all selfish pleasure and slothful

ease and idle curiosity. Keep us

ever mindful of the fewness of

our days, and the greatness of

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8 itaoit of drapers

Thy work. As our day is, so let

bur strength be. And let Thy

favour be upon us ; establish Thou

the work of our hands upon us;

yea, the work of our hands, estab

lish Thou it, through Jesus Christ,

our Lord. Amen.

[45]

& $ooft of $raperg

0

XI

GOD, who art unsearchable

in Thy judgments, and in

Thy ways past finding out, we

bow before the mystery of Thy

Being, and confess that we know

nothing, and can say nothing wor

thy of Thee. We cannot under

stand Thy dealings with us. We

have faith, not sight; when we

cannot see, we may only believe.

Sometimes Thou seemest to have

no mercy upon us. Thou dost

pierce us through our most tender

affections, quenching the light of

our eyes in dreadful darkness.

Death tears from us all that we

love, and Thou art seemingly deaf

to all our cries. Our earthly cir

cumstances are reversed and bitter

poverty is appointed us, yet Thou

takest no heed, and bringest no

[46]

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comfort to the sorrow and the

barrenness of our life. Still would

we trust in Thee and cling to

that deepest of our instincts which

tells us that we come from Thee

and return to Thee. Be with us,

Father of Mercies, in love and

pity and tenderness unspeakable.

Lift our souls into Thy perfect

calm, where all our griefs are put

to rest, and our wills are in har

mony with Thine.

O Lord, remember each one of

us in our need. Thou wilt not

forget our dear ones who are sick.

Many whom Thou lovest are ill

in body or in mind. Heal them,

we entreat Thee; and grant that

after they have been afflicted, they

may be comforted, and taste of

those deeper joys that are pur

chased only with pain. Graciously

bless our children. Lay Thy hand

[47]

g pBoofe of drapers

upon them, and grant that through

the coming years, in joy or in sor

row, in health or in sickness, in all

the changes of their life, they may

live under Thine eye and in Thy

strength, and rise into the meas

ure of the stature of the fulness of

Christ. Be gracious to those who

bear responsibility, the toilers who

win bread for wife and child. Let

them not be crushed by the bur

dens which they have to carry.

Sweeten every task; lighten every

load with a sense of duty done, of

love's command obeyed. Remem

ber the aged. Smooth their de

clining steps. Help them to bear

the infirmities of the years. Make

the old man young again in spirit,

that he may have a foretaste of the

eternal youth of Heaven.

Immortal Father! the years

are fast passing. Even as a va

[48]

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pour, our little life vanisheth away.

O spare us that we may do some

work for Thy sake alone! Let us

not pass hence until, if it may be,

through us a sinner shall be con

verted from the error of his ways,

or an ignorant soul instructed,

or a grief-stricken heart consoled

and strengthened, or an outcast

brought into the home and fellow

ship of the children of God. Our

being is a great mystery, set be

tween two eternities, and search

we ever so deeply we can not

know the meaning. We believe

that life is ours in order that it

may be the channel for Thy saving

and recreating power; that our

wills are ours in order that they

may be made Thine. Let the

dead past bury its dead. For the

time that remains, consecrate us

to the service of the living, and

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& Jtoofe of drapers

draw us to the spirit of Him who

came not to be ministered unto,

but to minister, and to give his

life a ransom for many. These

petitions we make in His name.

Amen.

[SO]

g gjgojt of Braperg

XII

QfLMIGHTY Father, teach us

<Vl' by Thy Spirit how to pray,

for indeed we know not how to

pray as we ought. Give us the

desire to speak with Thee, and then

let us hear Thee speak with us.

Thy goodness and loving kindness

have followed us day by day. Thy

mercies have been so common that

we have dared to deem them com

monplace. Give us the spiritual

sight, quick to discern Thy hand

and recognise Thy bounty. From

Thee alone come life and strength,

food and raiment, books and

friends, work and rest. Thou

givest us these to train us for the

better and the more abiding joys.

Let us not repine when Thou

takest them from us, but let us

rejoice that in Thee our loss turns

[51]

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to infinite gain. Amid the changes

of life, O Lord, keep us steadfast

and loyal to the service of Thy

will. Let no storm disturb the

deep things of our quietness. Let

no trial shake the foundations of

our faith. Establish us in the

assurance that though all else

perish, Thy truth and righteous

ness are eternal; that though we

faint and fail, Thou failest never.

Thine unchangeableness rebukes

our fickleness; Thine abiding pa

tience, our want of self-control.

Grant us, 0 heavenly Father,

perfect remission and forgiveness

for all our wasted hours. Too

often have we proved recreant in

the fight against evil and put to

sleep the cries of conscience. We

have chosen selfish ease, or mean

ambitions, or unholy pleasures,

and have said, "These be our

[52]

& Hooft of ffrapertf

gods!" And then have we be

come the bond-servants of sin.

Have mercy upon us and free us

from those habits of thought and

feeling which the years have

engraven upon us. Subdue the

waywardness of our hearts to the

meekness of Christ. Let Him

enter anew into our souls, and be

formed in us, that every evil

habit may fall from off us, and

that we may put on the virtues

and graces of the Christian life.

Let our days be bound each to

each in the bonds of spiritual piety.

If Thou shouldst call us to bear

pain or sorrow, give us patience

that we may win from it its

hidden blessing. And to this end

grant that we may not speak too

much about our griefs, nor let

them prey upon our hearts, but

commit them all to Thee, casting

[53]

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all our care upon Thee, because

Thou carest for us. Shouldst

Thou summon us to some great

act of sacrifice, steady the will, O

Lord, and inspire the heart with

great courage, and put within us

the mind of Him who emptied

Himself and took upon Him the

form of a servant, and became

obedient unto death, even the

death of the Cross. Teach us that

it is better to give than to receive,

better to lose our life than to save

it. And so may we ever pass into

Thy hand, and be dedicated to

Thy service, which is perfect free

dom. Hear us, in Thy mercy,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[54]

a Poofe of drapers

XIII

|jt^ GOD of infinite mercy, who

Kt^ hast compassion upon all

men and hatest nothing Thou hast

made, we praise and magnify Thy

glorious name for all the goodness

Thou hast vouchsafed to us. Thou

hast given us this wonderful life,

with its strange secrets, its per

plexing mysteries, its boundless

aspirations, its limitless capacities

for joy and sorrow. Thou hast

sent us success and happiness; we

have taken them as our due, and

have scarce given Thee a thought.

Thou hast permitted griefs and

pains to befall us that Thou might-

est draw us to Thyself; but we

have murmured against the whole

some discipline, and have missed

its saving message. Thou hast

held up before us ideals of peace

T55]

8 Poofe of firapera

and holiness — not engraven on

awful tables of stone but revealed

in the grace and beauty of the

Man Christ Jesus — yet have we

turned to lower levels and made

compromise with the evil of the

world. In Thy mercy, forgive us

all that is past, and for the future

bow our wills in obedience to

Thine, that we may love Thee per

fectly, and serve Thee faithfully.

Loving Father! though Thou

countest the stars andbringestforth

their host, yet dost Thou bind up

the wounds of the sick and healest

the broken-hearted. If to any of

us Thou hast especially spoken

words of comfort and of strength,

we thank Thee. If Thou hast

saved any from temptation, or

answered the cry of a perplexed

soul, or opened a way back to

Heaven and holiness for some poor

[56]

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prodigal child of Thine, we praise

Thee. If Thou hast touched any

heart with a special joy, or hast

turned for any life the shadow of

death into Thy morning, we give

thanks to Thee for Thy great

glory. By the memory of all the

outgoings of thy compassion, we

would vow ourselves afresh to

Thee, and to the work Thou hast

given us to do.

We pray for all men. We pray

for those who cannot pray for

themselves, who think of Thee

only as a vague and puzzling image

of the mind. Teach them how

real, how gracious, how generous

Thou art, the Source of life and

light, without whom we were lost

in death and darkness. We pray

for the sick in the homes and

hospitals of our land. Bless

watched and watcher alike, that

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to the watched may come, even

amid bodily pain and trial,

strength of mind, calm of soul,

and to the watcher, the sympathy

and tenderness that bring Thy

message of hope. We ask for no

miracle, no violation of the laws

Thou hast ordained, but we seek

that through Thy appointed chan

nels Thou wouldest send forth

Thy word and heal the afflicted, so

that men might praise Thee for

Thy loving kindness and for Thy

wonderful works to the children

of men. Each heart knows its

own bitterness, but Thou knowest

the bitterness of all hearts. Thou

hast a healing balm for each hurt

of the soul. Bring strength to the

weary, relief to the nervous and

the miserable, consolation to the

disconsolate, and deliverance to

those who sit in the shadow of

[58]

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death, fast bound in misery and

iron. Speak peace to the troubled

conscience; strengthen the weak;

confirm the strong; save the op

pressed and him that hath no

helper. And, by Thy mercy, bring

us all by the paths of righteousness

and the waters of comfort to Thine

abode of rest and glory, through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[59]

& Hoofe of drapers

XIV

ffP% GOD, in whom we live and

\if move and have our being,

make us to feel Thy presence, as

we would lift here a voice of pen

itence and prayer. We are not

always conscious of Thy closeness

to us. In the misery of bereave

ment, or the sadness of a wronged

affection, or in the loneliness of

depression which comes we know

not how, and envelops the soul

with thick clouds, we are forced to

cry; "O that I knew where I

might find him! Behold I go for

ward, but He is not there, and

backward, but I cannot perceive

Him!" But now would we see

Thee in all the glory of Thine over

flowing mercy; now would we know

Thee as the inmost Treasure of our

hearts, the never-failing Light in

[60]

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the darkness and mystery of our

little lives.

Father of mercies! We thank

Thee for all that Thou art to us.

We cannot understand the great

ness of Thy grace > that Thou

shouldst rejoice in us and love to

hold converse with us. We can

only adore Thee and praise Thee

for Thy goodness and Thy mar

vellous loving kindness. Thou

art our King, and therefore the

laws and ways of Thy Kingdom

safeguard our happiness. Thou

art our Shepherd, and dost

lead us by the green pastures

and the still waters of Thy

grace. Thou art our Father, whose

infinite tenderness bears all our

sickness and carries all our sor

rows. Thou art our Companion,

therefore we will fear no evil,

though we should walk through

[61]

8 Hook of ffrapett

the valley of the shadow of

death.

Thy goodness leadeth us to re

pentance. We confess with shame

that we have not been pure and

true. Instead of overcoming evil,

we have too often been overcome

by it. We have forgotten the holy

calling wherewith Thou hast called

us, and turned back to the flesh-

pots of the world. The powers of

the unseen have been manifested

around us, all the ineffable grace

of the Godhead hath dwelt among

us in the person of Thy Son Jesus

Christ, — and we are still irreso

lute, still uncommitted to the per

fect life, still unable to make the

great resolve. O God, have pity

upon us. Put within us a spirit of

penitence and of faith, that the

bands which bind us may melt

away and nothing shall be impos

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sible unto us. Take from us the

intolerable burden of conscious

guilt, that we may step forth into

the glorious liberty of the children

of God. Crown us kings and

priests unto Thee, our God, vic

torious over the discouragements

that beset us, pledged to no am

bition save that of loving Thee

and of helping our brothers in

sincerity and simplicity. Grant

that we may commend our religion

to others by our joyous demeanour,

our courage under trials, our self-

restraint under provocation, our

patience under misfortune and dis

appointment. Thus may we, as

far as in us lies, spread the knowl

edge of the good news of Thy

Kingdom, and attract others into

it with the glad invitation— "O

sad and disconsolate, weary and

heavy-laden ones, come ye, and let

TW

& JJoolt of $rapers

us walk in the light of the Lord ! "

These blessings we beseech Thee

to give us for Jesus Christ's sake.

Amen.

[64]

g Poofe of $raperss

XV

ifffjERCIFUL Father! Thou

,2^1 delightest to answer our

prayer. Take us at this time into

communion with Thyself. Breathe

into our hearts so that our human

desires may be brought into har

mony with Thy divine desire.

Banish from us all pride, arrogance,

and self-conceit; all insincerity

and doubleness of mind or heart.

Make us simple with the simplicity

which is in Christ. May our desires,

purged of all unworthiness, rise up

before Thee as the incense, and,

what Thou hast inspired within us,

be pleased to accept and bless.

Set us free, O Lord, from the

bonds of sense and outward things.

Lift from off us the heavy weight of

custom. May we no longer serve

the traditions of men but obey

[65]

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Thy commandments with glad

and willing hearts. Sanctify our

sorrows. Let them not dull our

minds or narrow our hearts; but

do Thou work through them Thy

holy ends and call us by them to

a deeper knowledge and a larger

vision. When the difficulties of

the day try us, take from us all

weak lamenting and inspire us

with Thy strength to grapple with

them, and to win from them a

deeper trust in Thee. Consecrate

all our work and service. Inspire

us with a spirit of devotion and

patience. May we seek not our

own glory but to do Thy pleasure

and to bring forth some fruit

which may be to the praise of

Thy grace. Grant that we may

throw aside all sloth and self-

seeking and learn the blessedness

of an eager and sacrificial life.

[66]

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Bless us in our intercourse with

our fellows. Quicken our hearts

that we may be swift to hear our

brother's cry from the pit of

humiliation or of need. Give us

the forgiving spirit, else how should

we know ourselves forgiven by

Thee? If any have wronged us,

grant that we may bring to them

Thy charity and win them to a

better mind. If any are in dis

grace or shame, outcasts from

the world, make us Thy messen

gers of mercy, that we may share

the pain, and by our love, which

is also Thine, lead them back to

Thy home and fellowship. May

we be to all men Thy revealers and

interpreters, bearing Thy appeal

to the sinning, the sorrowful and

the despairing. And this we would

be and do, through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

[67]

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(0

XVI

THOU, who hast created all

things, and for whose glory

they are and were created! We

thank thee for the beauty of This

world, for the glory of leaf and

flower, for the majesty and mys

tery of the stars, for the singing of

the birds, for the splendours of

dawn and sunset, for the ever-

changing wonders of summer and

winter. Through these symbols

of Thee grant that we may rise to

Thee and be possessed by Thee.

Glorious as are Thy manifesta

tions in Nature, Thou art Thyself

more glorious by far. Thy great

ness none can comprehend; Thy

purity makes the Heavens unclean;

Thy power in Nature, as in spirit,

reaches beyond our utmost imagi

nings. Awe us by Thy holiness,

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subdue us by Thy majesty, yet,

in the tenderness of Thy grace,

cause us to stand before Thee con

fident and unashamed. And then,

O Lord, when we hear Thy voice

saying, "Whom shall I send and

who will go for us?" our hearts

will make reply, "Here are we,

Lord, send us." In Thy mercy,

deliver us from egotism and self-

centred thought, by the power of

a great pity for the poor and needy,

for Thy children everywhere who

long to be understood, and who

crave in the darkness for a

brother's hand. Bow our wills to

the law of sacrifice, so that we may

share the burdens of others and

freely yield of what we have re

ceived. Enable us to see good in

every man, and to search for it

earnestly. Henceforth may we

know no man after the flesh, but

[69]

a Itoofc of Ifrapera

after the spirit; may we judge no

man by his weak or vicious mo

ments, but by the best that is in

him, by the deepest desires that

here find no true fulfilment.

Give us simplicity and direct

ness in all our dealings with our

fellows. Fill us with a horror of

all meanness and hard-heartedness.

May the appeal of wretchedness

never knock at our hearts in vain,

nor the cry of the wronged or op

pressed be powerless to rouse us to

righteous indignation. Awaken us

from our spiritual slumbers and

teach us the holy joy of service in

Thy name. Reveal to us the glory

of our vocation, the glory of bat

tling with wrong, of helping the

weak, of blessing the sinful, of

shaping a character that cannot

die. Banish from our hearts all

despair and doubt and hesitation,

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and send us forth into the sunshine

cleansed and purified and glad

dened. May we radiate Thy love

alike to the good and the bad, the

just and the unjust. We ascribe

unto Thee all praise and glory,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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XVII

"IT OVING Father, our hearts are

J^ moved to gratitude and trust

when we look up to Thee. We

rejoice that through our fleeting

days there runs Thy gracious pur

pose. We praise Thee that we are

not the creatures of chance, nor

the victims of iron fate, but that

out from Thee we have come and

into Thy bosom we shall return.

We would not, even if we could,

escape Thee. Thou alone art good,

and to escape from Thee is to fall

into infinite evil. Thy hand is

upon us moving us on to some far-

off spiritual event, where the mean

ing and the mystery of life shall be

made plain and Thy glory shall

be revealed. Look in pity upon

our ignorance and childishness.

Forgive us our small understand

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ing of Thy purpose of good con

cerning us. Be not angry with us,

but draw us from the things of

this world which cannot satisfy

our foolish hearts. Fill us with

Thyself, that we may no longer be

a burden to ourselves. So glorify

the face of goodness that evil shall

have no more dominion over us.

The strength of Thy love, O

Lord, we would have all men share.

Let it go forth to all who feel

themselves neglected, or despised,

or forgotten. Be Thou their great

Companion, who understands all,

whose sympathy is wider and

deeper than all their need. Look

in compassion upon the bereaved

and broken-hearted. Help them

to take up afresh the duties of life

with a deeper devotion to Thee,

that so they may pass into that

world of experience, where sorrow

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alone can lead the way. Lift them

above themselves so that their

tears may bring forth fruit in

tender ministry to those afflicted

with like suffering, that they may

comfort others with the comfort

wherewith they themselves are

comforted by Thee. For those

who despair because of moral

weakness and failure, we pray.

May they throw themselves on

Thy truth and mercy, and hear

Thy voice of power and reassur

ance, "Be still and know that

I am thy God, thy salvation." Let

the doubter see his doubts dissolve

away in the vision of Thyself.

Let the restless and discontented

pass into Thy peace, which the

world cannot give and cannot take

away. Let the miserable and ill at

ease, the fretful and the careworn,

come forth from their cabined

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world into the larger places of

Thy blessedness and Thy rest.

O God, Thou hast been our

fathers' God. They trusted in

Thee, and were not ashamed. Be

our God and our Fortress, even

unto death, for Thy mercies' sake.

Amen.

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XVIII

QfLMIGHTY and most merci-

<*^- ful Father, hear our prayers;

and, when Thou hearest, forgive

their weakness, bless their inten

tion, deepen their feeling, and

make them sincere. Thou hast a

fire which can consume our im

pure thoughts, which can make of

our poor sacrifice a sweet incense

wherein Thou wilt delight. Touch

our lips, we beseech Thee, with a

live coal from off Thine altar, and

say unto us, "Lo, this hath touched

thy lips, and thine iniquity is

taken away and thy sin for

given." And then may we speak

to Thee with the freedom of

children who would open their

inmost hearts to the Father's

kindness and tender pity.

Gracious Father! Thou hast

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committed unto us varied tasks.

To some it is given to command;

to others, to obey. On some

Thou hast bestowed riches ; others

Thou hast set in poverty. Some

live in perpetual sunshine, sur

rounded by honour, love and

friends; others there are whose

days are spent in gloom, knowing

but little of the joy Thou hast put

at the heart of life. We are all

alike responsible to Thee. From

each Thou shalt demand strict

account of his stewardship. We

faint when we think of this. The

burden grows upon us until it

seems as though it were too heavy

to be borne. O great Taskmaster,

pardon our wasted past, and for

the future give us Thy strength

that we may never shrink before

any duty, however hard, or play the

coward in any conflict, however

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bitter to flesh and blood. So

much remains to be done, and life

is so short, and the years so fleet

ing. Our time, which is but a

moment in Thy eternity, Thou

hast crowded with mystic experi

ences and glorious opportunities.

Grant that we may pass by the

shadows of earth, and build upon

the great realities of truth and

love and righteousness. To this

end send forth Thy Spirit into our

hearts, to counsel us in perplexity,

to shield us in spiritual danger, to

inspire our wills to do Thy work.

Leave us not to ourselves, or to

the forces of the world about us,

but in the storm of passion, or in

the stress of doubt, hide us in Thy

pavilion until our day of trouble

be overpast. Draw us nearer to

Thy central peace, where vain de

sires and mean passions and empty

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hopes are hushed to rest and we

know that all is well. Comfort us

with the hope of a happy awaken

ing after life's fitful dream is over,

and, when we awake, may we be

satisfied with Thy likeness. And

unto Thee we ascribe all praise

and glory, now and ever. Amen.

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21 Pook of drapers

XIX

/rf^ GOD, most holy and most

\£s gracious, never could we

climb up to Thee by any ladder

of our own making; therefore in

pity Thou hast sent Thy Son into

the world to show us the way to

Thee. Thou hast set the glory of

Thine omnipotence in Heaven and

earth. And yet wert Thou only

an infinitude of might, our hearts

would faint within us. But now

in Jesus Christ Thou hast veiled

Thy power, hast come forth in the

strength of Thy gentleness to live

our life and die our death, that

Thou mightest win us to sonship

and eternal life. O God, we know

not the meaning of Gethsemane

and the Cross. If we seek to grasp

it, too often we but darken counsel

with words of ignorance. We can

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only praise Thee for Thy grace,

and lift up a cry of penitence and

of trust.

Living Father! We thank Thee

for our life with its unspeakable

privilege and dread responsibility.

Thou hast given it to us that

through it may throb the mighty

tide of Thy love, that in it may

be revealed some aspect of Thy

being and beauty. Thou hast

beset us behind and before. Thou

makest us to sorrow for our

sins. Thou dost stir us with

a divine discontent, and we for

get the things that are behind

and reach forth unto the things

that are before. We rejoice that

Thou hast set our life amid gra

cious opportunities, whereby Thou

wouldst train us to truer vision

and larger understanding of Thee

and of ourselves. We bless Thee

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for the Church as the school of

virtue and godly living; for the

sacred Scriptures that bring to us

the story of Thy redeeming will;

for all the wise and saintly men

of the past and of the present;

for the goodly fellowship of the

prophets, and the noble army of

the martyrs; for the great cloud

of witnesses from whose faith and

hope we would take courage in our

struggles and trials. We rejoice to

believe that Thou art always over

ruling trouble and temptation and

sin and disappointment, and out

of them art making stepping-

stones to bring us nearer to Thee.

Forbid that we should know Thy

grace in vain. Rather may Thy

goodness bind us anew to loyalty

and to faith, and constrain us to a

life separate from evil, made conse

crate to goodness.

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We would not be selfish in our

prayers. We cannot come into

Thy presence without bringing in

our hearts the tears, the pain, the

longing of our brothers. O God,

our sympathy with them is but

the broken reflection of Thine.

Come Thou to the burdened, the

wretched, the grief-stricken, those

who have been made sad by others,

and those who have brought sad

ness upon themselves. May they

hear, by faith, the still voice of

Thy sympathy! May they feel

the beating of Thy great heart of

compassion ! May they take com

fort in the assurance that Thou

dost suffer in and with them, and

yet abidest in everlasting blessed

ness! Hear our prayers in behalf

of all those who are struggling

against the power of evil. Have

pity upon the drunkard. Restore

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to him the power of self-control.

Enable him to obey the behests

of reason and conscience. Lay

Thy healing and soothing hand

upon the victims of nervous ten

sion, of sleepless nights, and fruit

less days. Give them rest of soul

that the body, too, may be at rest.

Relieve those who are in pain.

Grant them patience and courage,

and let them not doubt Thy good

ness or love. Call the sinning

and the suffering into fellowship

with Christ that they may find in

Him the secret of victory over the

evil of the world; that He may

rise in their souls, a star burning

brightly through the long night

unto Thy perfect day. These

blessings we beg, in His name, and

for His sake. Amen.

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XX

/fTS LORD, we would rest in

KP Thee, for in Thee alone is

true rest to be found. We would

forget our disappointed hopes, our

fruitless efforts, our trivial aims,

and lean on Thee, our Comfort

and our Strength. When the

order of this world bears cruelly

upon us; when Nature seems to us

an awful machine, grinding out life

and death, without a reason or a

purpose; when our hopes perish in

the grave where we lay to rest our

loved dead: O what can we do

but turn to Thee, whose law un-

derlieth all, and whose love, we

trust, is the end of all? Thou

fillest all things with Thy presence,

and dost press close to our souls.

Still every passion, rebuke every

doubt, strengthen every element

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of good within us, that nothing

may hinder the outflow of Thy

life and power. In Thee, let the

weak be full of might, and let the

strong renew their strength. In

Thee, let the tempted find suc

cour, the sorrowing consolation,

and the lonely and the neglected

their Supreme friend, their faithful

Companion.

O Lord, we are weary of our old,

barren selves. Separate us from

our spiritual past, and quicken

within us the seeds of a new future.

Transform us by the breath of

Thy regenerating power, that life

may seem supremely beautiful

and duty our highest privilege,

and the only real evil a guilty

conscience. Let us be no longer

sad, or downcast, or miserable, or

despairing, vexed by remorse, or

depressed by our failures. Take

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from us the old self. Give us a

new self, beautiful, vigorous and

joyous. Let old things pass away

and let all things become new.

Kindle within us a flame of

heavenly devotion, so that to us

work for Thee shall become a

happiness, and rest in Thee shall

become an energy, unchecked by

fears within and foes without.

Give us love, and then we shall

have more than all we need, for

Thou art Love, Thyself the Giver

and the Gift.

Bless us in all our relations with

our fellows. Grant that we may

never add to the sin and sadness

of the world, never add to the

burdens that lie heavy on other

souls, never offend one of Thy

little ones, whose angels always

behold Thy face. Save us from

all pride and envy and jealousy,

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from a bitter and uncharitable tem

per, from inconsiderate and selfish

deeds. Enable us to give a smile

instead of a frown; a cheerful,

kindly word, instead of harshness

and coldness. Let our dealings

with all men, good and bad alike,

be simple and according to the

way of Christ. May we love the

sinner, even while we condemn

his sin. Forgive us that we have

so often rejoiced at the misfortune

of the transgressor, and grant that

we may henceforth greatly pity

him and gently turn his thoughts

to goodness and to Thee. O God,

these tasks seem hard to us, but

with Thee all things are possible.

Supply to us the strength that we

need, according to the riches of

Thy Grace in glory by Christ

Jesus. Amen.

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XXI

3J2LESSED art Thou, O God,

{& who hast created and dost

sustain us, out of whose fulness

come blessing and goodness and

happiness. Dwell in us as a

power of love and of soundness.

Heal the disorders of body and

soul. Pluck from the memory the

rooted sorrow and cleanse the

overcharged heart from its misery

and pain. Bring Thy peace to

the troubled conscience. Quench

the fires of evil within us and light

a flame of holy love that may

warm and purify our lives.

O God, our Father, as we look

back upon our past lives, we

realise that Thy hand hast guided

us. Even in the desert places of

our experience, Thou hast caused

to break forth springs that have

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made life glad. Thou hast be

stowed upon us the riches of

human love and tenderness, that

our hearts might rise to Thee.

Sorrow and troubles have come

to us, but Thou hast turned

them to our spiritual good, for

through them the Heavens have

been opened unto us and in the

visions of the night we have

seen Thy angels ascending and

descending on a ladder of glory.

Death has made our hearts deso

late, but Thou hast wiped away

our tears and hast begotten us

again unto a living hope by the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from

the dead. Never again, 0 Lord,

will we mistrust Thee, never again

will we doubt Thy power or will

ingness to bless. Here and now

we renounce our own vain guid

ance and take refuge in Thy

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providential care. Whatever the

future may have in store for us,

whether our days be few or many,

full of joy or of sorrow, of pleasure

or of pain, we would hold fast by

Thee, whom we see not, as though

we saw Thee. "Whom have we

in Heaven but Thee; and there

is none upon the earth that we

desire beside Thee. Our flesh and

our hearts faint, but Thou art

the Strength of our heart and our

portion for ever." Henceforth we

would have nothing, receive noth

ing, and be nothing but what Thou

choosest. In the turmoil of the

world, in the failure of lower

hopes, we would remember that

our deepest life is hid with Christ

in Thee. O Christ, Thou Son of

God and Son of Man, enter anew

into our hearts. Move us to

fresh ambition. Assure us of the

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Father's love, and lead us into

the wonder and the joy of His

forgiving grace, and make us one

with Him in every thought and

purpose and desire. Dwell in us

evermore, Thou Peace of God,

earnest of the peace of eternity!

We ask it in Thy name. Amen.

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XXII

gjLMIGHTY and ever-living

<C% God, we draw near unto

Thee, believing that Thou art, and

that Thou wilt reward all those

who diligently- seek Thee. We

are weak, mortal men, immersed in

this world's affairs, buffeted by

its sorrows, flung to and fro by

its conflicts of right and wrong.

We cry for some abiding stay,

for some sure and steadfast an

chorage. Reveal Thyself to us as

the eternal God, as the unfathom

able Love that encompasses every

spirit Thou hast made, and bears

it on, through the light and the

darkness alike, to the goal of

Thine own perfection. And yet,

when Thou speakest to us, we

are covered with confusion, for

now we remember all the sadness

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53 Hook of drapers

and evil and disorder of our lives.

Thou hast visited our hearts with

ideals fair and beautiful, but alas !

we have grown weary in aspiration,

and have declined into the sordid

aims of our baser selves. Thou

hast given us the love of parent

and of friend, that we might

thereby learn something of Thine

own love; yet too often have we

despised Thy gift and shut our

hearts to all the wonder and the

glory. We make confession before

Thee of our sin and folly and

ignorance. Again and again we

have vowed ourselves to Thy ser

vice; again and again our languid

wills have failed to do Thy Will.

We have been seduced by the

sweet poison of sin, and even

against light and knowledge we

have done that which Thou dost

abhor, and which in our secret

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hearts we loathe. And now we

almost fear to repent, lest Thou

shouldst call us into judgment

for a repentance that must needs be

repented of. O mighty Saviour

of men! be patient with us a little

longer. Take us back to Thyself.

Without Thee, we are undone;

with Thee, we will take fresh heart

of hope, and bind ourselves with

a more effectual vow, and laying

aside every weight and the sin

which doth so easily beset us, we

will follow Thee whithersoever

Thou leadest.

Gracious Father, Thou hast in

vited us, unworthy as we are, to

pray for all sorts and conditions of

men. We pray for all those who

say, "Why hast Thou forgotten

me?" and who feel that they

are neglected or despised by their

fellows. Comfort them with a

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sense of Thy presence and Thy

favour. We pray for all who are

in bondage to fear, unable to face

the tasks of life or bear the thought

of death with peace and dignity.

Free them from the tyranny of

these dark dreads. Let the inspi

ration of a great faith or hope

seize their souls, and lift them

above their fruitless worry and

idle torments, into a region of joy

and peace and blessedness. We

pray for the victims of evil habits,

the slaves of alcohol or mor

phine, or any other pretended re

deemer of the soul from weariness

and pain. Great is the power of

these degrading temptations; but

greater still is the saving energy

of Thy Spirit. So let Thy Spirit

enter the hearts of these unhappy

children of Thine, that their will

may be made strong to resist, and

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that the burning heat of high

thoughts may consume the grosser

desires of the flesh. We pray

for souls bound beneath self-im

posed burdens, vexed by miseries

of their own making; for the

children of melancholy, who have

lost their way and grope without

a light; for those who do their

work with no enthusiasm, and,

when night falls, can find no sleep

though they search for it as for

hidden treasure. Let Thy light

pierce through their gloom and

shine upon their path. Say Thou

the healing and the reconciling

word, and then we know that self-

possession will be theirs, and all

the blessings of a mind at one with

Thee and with itself. Help us all,

we beseech Thee, to attempt once

more to lead the perfect life.

Unite us to Jesus Christ, Thy

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perfect Son, in the bonds of a

living trust, so that sustained by

His example, and sanctified by

His Spirit, we may grow more

and more into the image of His

likeness. These, and all other

blessings, we ask in His name and

for His sake. Amen.

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XXIII

gTLMIGHTY God, our Heavenly

<*w Father, as we enter Thy pres

ence, we are ashamed of our poor,

sinful lives. We have been drawn

away by evil from the holy path

of Thy commandments. Doubt

has dimmed our vision of Thy

supreme realities. Pride has shut

the doors of our souls against the

entrance of Thy spirit. The clouds

of faithless sorrow have hidden

Thy face from us. The bitter

ness of disappointed hopes has

shut us out from the healing sun

shine of Thy presence. Outside

the closed portals of our hearts

Thou hast stood, in Jesus Christ,

knocking, ah! how long, how

patiently; but within, it may be,

and forgetful of Thee, we have

worshipped other gods, or served

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our own imaginings, or loved too

well our own ambitions. O Thou,

with whom is plenteous forgive

ness, waken us from our vain

dreams and reveal to us the hidden

treasures of life and blessedness.

Henceforth may we not waste

Thy precious gift of time, but use

it well, that we may lay hold on

eternal life, and work and watch

and wait, as under Thine eyes, and

in Thy strength. For the time that

remains, help us to live as those

who have been called to be Thy

sons. Grant us the filial spirit of

unfailing trust and glad obedience,

so that the daily task, whether in

the school of childhood, or in the

wider discipline of riper years,

may become a sacrament, a token

of Thy grace. Lead us into the

knowledge of Thyself, that we

may be at peace. 0 Spirit of

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holiness and grace! stay with us,

to breathe into our souls new love

after the shame of guilt, and new

resolves after every failure. Hush

every passion; heal every sorrow;

help every infirmity, and quicken

within us new faith and hope and

trust. Save us from sin, save us

from the darkness that is in us;

from our evil ways, our meanness,

our injustice, our foolishness, our

pride; and work Thy commanded

good through our frail wills.

We bear in our hearts all the

sorrowing and unhappy among

Thy children. Be gracious to

those who are made sad by sins

of others, who are vexed by the

cruelty of those whom they love,

yet cannot save. Let them know

that Thou art strong to save, and

give them a trust in Thee that

will make their burdens 'light.

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Remember in pity the anxious

and care-laden, the victims of

irritable weakness, of morbid fears,

and unchastened impulses. Give

peace to such distracted souls.

Restore to unity and harmony the

inner life, that mind and body may

be attuned to Thy perfect laws.

We pray for the bond-slaves of

degrading habits; for the drunk

ard, that he may see the evil which

his sin works in himself, and the

pain it brings on others, and that

this vision may make strong the

will to resist. May the power of

a new affection conquer the demons

of base indulgence and set Thy

children free. We pray Thee,

O God, to have mercy upon any

who have fallen by the roadside,

sore bruised by the evil of the

world. May we never pass by

such,- but be moved to compassion

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and be to them as the Good

Samaritan, after the example of

Jesus Christ. Some there are who

cannot pray to Thee, who only cry

out against Thee as against some

dreadful fate. Thou knowest the

riddle of their lives. Thou canst

interpret their experience. Speak

Thou to them the word that

illumines, and let Thy glory break

through the darkness.

Hear our prayers, O Lord, and

what in our ignorance we fail to

ask, fail not Thou to give; and

unto Thy name we give the glory,

now and ever. Amen.

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XXIV

(2fLL Thy works praise Thee, 0

<*^ Lord, and Thy saints give

thanks unto Thee. On mountain

and field and flower and sky Thou

hast set Thy glory. The hearts of

men and women and little children

Thou hast filled with happiness.

"The whole round world is bound

with golden chains about Thy

feet." O give us spirits attuned

to the harmonies of Thy universe,

that this day we may join in the

swelling chorus of praise that ever

magnifies Thy name. Lift us up

into Thy joy, before which sorrow

hides her face and pain and fear

fly away.

We bless Thee for Thy self-

revelation in Jesus Christ, our

blessed Lord and Master. We

have stood in His presence and

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have heard Him say, "He that

hath seen me hath seen the

Father." In Him Thou hast come

among us, cleansing our soiled

hearts, healing the wounds of

body and of mind, giving rest to

the troubled conscience, and open

ing the blind eyes to the beauty

and brightness of the world. As

we listen to His voice, grief be

comes a scorn of ills and the

weaknesses of life become our

glory. As we look into His face

we seek nothing but that we may

love Him with all our hearts and

serve Him with all our might. O

Christ, Thou Son of God, let the

Spirit which bore Thee to the

Cross abide in us! Touch us with

the glory of Thy Sonship, with the

power of Thy surrendered life, that

we, no longer the servants of the

world, maybecome the sons of God !

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Bless us, our Father, in all our

work and in all the relations of

life. Sanctify the life of the home.

May its memories abide with us

to strengthen us in the hour of

temptation, to comfort us in the

hour of sorrow. May children

love and honour their parents,

and may parents be tender and

considerate with their children,

knowing how delicate is the child-

soul, and how easily harshness

casts it down. Pour out a spirit

of kindness and goodness in the

home, that all the members of it

may be bound each to each in

bands of mutual love and service

that may not be broken. Bless

us in the larger world where we

toil and suffer. We thank Thee

for work and the opportunity to

work. Grant that our labour

may be congenial to us; that we

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may do it with ease and a sense

of mastery. Let us not be

enslaved to our tasks, but

may we feel ourselves greater

than they, and ready for still

nobler efforts. Save us from sullen

discontent, from fruitless war with

the circumstances of our lot. Make

our hearts obedient, that by the

untoward things of experience we

may win a larger and a freer life.

Give us the spiritual vision and

a desire to pass beyond ourselves,

to think of the needs of others,

to make the world a little better

than we found it. Put within us

Christ's yearning for the redemp

tion of the world. Kindle within

us His passion for the souls of men.

Uphold us with the faith that

Thou hast called us into fellow

ship with Him, as Thy co-workers

in the achievement of Thy purpose

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of good. In this faith let us cheer

the mourner, raise up the fallen,

relieve the needy, forgive the

wrongdoer, and praise the lover

of simplicity and goodness. While

we give to others, give Thou

to us, that we may grow more and

more in the spirit of helpfulness

and generosity, both in word and

deed; And unto Thy name we will

ascribe praise and honour and

glory, world without end. Amen.

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3 ISook of drapers

XXV

ME come to Thee, O God,

with words of thanks

giving on our lips. We thank

Thee for Thy gifts. They are

as varied as our needs, as mani

fold as our desires. Our hearts

cry for love, and Thou hast given

us the love of parent and of friend,

that have been as Thy benediction

on our lives. Our minds crave

light and knowledge, and Thy

Spirit has kindled a lamp within

us. We long for the vision of

beauty, and Thou hast revealed

Thyself gloriously in the open

page of Nature. May we take

these gifts, not for their own sake

only, but as steps with which to

mount upward to Thee, who art

the perfection of love and truth

and beauty. Bathe us in Thy

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re-creating life, that we may cast off

all meanness, all despair, all sin

and shame, and enter into the

secret of Thy eternal gladness.

Help us to turn our earthly

blessings to ends divine.

We cannot fathom the mystery

of Thy being, but we rejoice that

Thou knowest us and the tempta

tions that try us, and the sorrows

that beat upon us and cast us

down, and the pains of body and

of mind that cloud our spirits and

make sad our world. Leave us

not as those who are fatherless

and outcast, but bring to us Thy

dawn, and shed light upon our

path. When we are wounded

with mental and physical dis

tresses, be at hand to heal and

save. When the cares and troubles

of this life threaten to kill the

soul, let Thy Spirit sustain us and

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create for us an inner world of

hope and faith and love, where

we may take refuge and hear Thy

voice speaking to us to warn, to

comfort and to guide. Save us, 0

Lord, from the weakness of self-

pity. In misery and suffering let

us turn to Thy pity, which alone

can strengthen, cleanse, and uplift.

Let not failure or sorrow embitter

us, or shut us off from those about

us, but may we find a cure for

our own griefs by pouring the

oil of consolation and the wine of

gladness into other lives. Grant

us brave hearts and true. Inspire

us with firmness to carry out every

holy purpose. Forbid that we

should waste the time that is left

in vain regrets for the past, or

vague dreams of the future, but

let us be up and doing, knowing

that though we may fall, thou wilt

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21 Jioofe of drapers!

not cast us away. May we gather

up the fragments of time and

opportunity which remain that

nothing be lost. Grant that we

may see Thee, not only in the

thunder and tempest and earth

quake, not only in the great mo

ments of spiritual exaltation, but

also in the commonplace duties,

in the familiar relationships of

life. May our home-life be glori

fied with the spirit of love and

mutual helpfulness. Remove from

our midst all wrath and clamour

and evil-speaking, and bitterness

and estrangement, and make us

gentle and easily entreated, the

children of a forgiving God. May

we know, with a spiritual knowl

edge, that Thou art Love, and that

dwelling in Love we dwell in

Thee, through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

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XXVI

/Jf% LIVING God, we thank

**+' Thee that Thou hast not

left us to ourselves. Thou hast

been our Teacher. All through

the past we can trace Thy self-

unveiling. Through law and

sacrifice and prophecy Thou hast

sought to keep alive within the

minds of men the knowledge of

Thyself. And in the fulness of

time Thou didst send Thy Son,

that in Him Thou mightest de

clare Thine inmost heart, Thy

love, which triumphs over sin and

pain and death. By the glory

of Thy manifested life, let us re

joice in the sense of sins forgiven,

in the assurance that one day the

tangled skein of our lives shall

be unravelled and their mystery

made plain. In times past we

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have not been willing to take all

Thy love, nor enter into all Thy

joy. We have often wandered

from Thee into wastes wherein

is no refreshment for our thirst,

no rest for our weariness. But

now we would be led by the green

pastures and the still waters. Now

we would lay aside our self-will,

and freely surrender ourselves to

the guiding of Thy hand. Allay

our fears; quicken our better

hopes; and so work in us that we

may will what Thou wiliest, and

because Thou wiliest it.

We cannot come into Thy pres

ence without bringing with us

all our brothers. Are we not all

Thy children, and hast Thou not

a purpose of good for us all? Give

us a large and a nobler outlook.

Give us more interest in each

other, more zeal for each other's

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happiness, more willingness to

share each other's pain. Take

from us all miserable aims that

end in self. May we, in the power

of Christ's spirit, help the weak

and neglected; comfort the af

flicted and sorrow-laden; and

bring a sense of fellowship to

those who are friendless and lonely.

We pray for the advancement of

Christ's cause and Kingdom. We

believe that it is the cause of

goodness and truth, of all that

makes life worth living. Awake,

O Most Mighty, and scatter the

banded powers of evil that delay

the coming of Thy Kingdom, the

victory of the Crucified. May

all the ills that work ruin in

our social and civic life be ban

ished from our midst. Cleanse

our hearts and lips, that we may

be made meet for Thy service,

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mighty to the pulling down of

strongholds, and to the building

up of the City of God, wherein

dwelleth righteousness. And this

we ask, for Thy Name's sake.

Amen.

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XXVII

€TERNAL God, whom the

Heaven of Heavens cannot

contain, yet who makest Thine

abode in humble and contrite

hearts, here would we meet with

Thee, and feel for a moment in

our souls the greatness of Thy

Power. Here would we know the

dignity of life and learn Thy per

fect law of liberty. Here would

we rise to the height of Thy up

ward calling, and deem ourselves

Thy sons and the heirs of immor

tality. We repent that we have

despised our souls. When evil

has made of us its prey, we have

said, "These sins are not1 ours.

They are a heritage of the past.

Our fathers have sowed the wind;

we reap the whirlwind." Thus

have we sought to silence Thy

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voice of rebuke. Reveal to us

now the mystery of our greatness.

Meet with each one of us alone.

Fill each one of us with a sense of

moral freedom, of personal worth,

of our kinship with Thee. May

we, in the strength of Thy visita

tion, rise up and shake off the

bonds that bind us, and live hence

forth as those whom Thou hast

made a little lower than the

angels, and crowned with glory

and honour.

Gracious Father! We confess

the painful riddle of our being,

that, while claiming kinship with

Thee, we feel far from Thee.

O, what means this strange be

wilderment, this never-ending war

between our worse and better

thoughts ? We are Thine by right,

yet we have not given ourselves

wholly to Thy care. Our hearts

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know no rest, save in Thee, yet

they have sought it in this

world's vainglory, which passeth

away. We seek to quench our

thirst at the cisterns of this

earth, but they are broken cis

terns, that can hold no water.

Lead us to Thy well of life that

springeth up eternally. Give us

to drink of that spiritual water, of

which, if any man drink, he shall

never thirst again. We lament

our want and poverty before

Thee. Open Thou our eyes to

behold the unsearchable riches of

Thy grace, and increase our faith

that we may make them ours.

Unite us to Thee in the bonds of

will and love and purpose. Out

of Thy fulness, which is in Christ,

give to each one of us according to

his need. Make us wise with His

wisdom; pure with His purity;

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strong with His strength; that

we may rise into the power and

glory of the life that is life indeed.

Hear our hearts' weak and wander

ing cries, and when Thou hearest,

forgive and bless, for His sake.

Amen.

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XXVIII

^JLMIGHTY and everlasting

/^^ God, we adore Thee as the

God of light and power. Shine

through the clouds that dim our

vision. Strengthenourweakhearts,

that we may love Thee and serve

Thee in freedom and gladness.

This world, which Thou hast com

mitted to us, is radiant with Thy

presence. Go where we will, we

cannot flee from Thy Spirit, that

speaks to us in the calm and

order and beauty of Nature. For

in our souls Thou dwellest, and

openest our eyes to read Thy

thought in sun and star, in field

and flower. We bless Thee that

Nature does not exhaust the ful

ness of Thy being. We rejoice

that, in the fight with temptation,

we are not alone, for Thou art

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our secret Helper. We praise

Thee that in all our affliction Thou

art afflicted, that in every sorrow

or disappointment or failure Thou

dost not give us over to our weak

repining, but dost summon us to

self-knowledge and to peace. O

God, our life kindles beneath Thy

touch. We know that Thou art

ours when the conscience awakens

us to long-neglected duties and

the sad disorder of our souls;

when repentance lays us in the

dust and aspiration bears us, as

with wings, above sin, despair and

death. And such value hast Thou

set upon us, that to make us Thine,

Thou hast given us the Christ,

the Anointed One. In Him

we understand Thy purpose con

cerning us. In Him Thou hast

bestowed upon us all we had

not dared to hope for. He

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has been made unto us wisdom

and righteousness and sanctifi-

cation and redemption. He is

the fulfilment of our past, the

prophecy of better things to come.

He is the rock beneath our feet,

the hope within our souls. O that

He would enter into our hearts

afresh! That He might become

the life of all our thoughts and the

inspiration of all our service!

Bless us now, O Lord, as we

are gathered in Thy presence.

Give us thankful hearts for Thy

unwearied mercies; for a father's

and a mother's love; for the

friendships which gladden our

days; for means of growth in

knowledge and virtue; for work,

and for the strength with which

to do it. Take from us all

foolish fears, all sinful discontent.

Fill our hearts with the sunshine

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of Thy love, so that we may-

give freely to all men of what

we have and of what we are.

These prayers we offer in Christ's

name. Amen.

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XXIX

Af* LORD, let Thy glory dwell

\is among us, as here we would

commune with Thee. Let us hear

Thy voice of love, and let our

hearts be filled with joy and peace.

Help us to forget the noises of the

outer world, and to enter into

Thy silence, where is healing for

every wound, help for every weak

ness, consolation for every sorrow.

We pray for the strong, that

they may abide in Thee, and in

Thee find renewal of their strength;

for the weak and the tempted,

that Thine arm may work out

for them a great salvation; for

the disconsolate, that in Thee their

griefs may receive a noble conse

cration; for the bereaved, that

they may have a vision of the

world beyond, where there is no

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more death, nor crying, nor mourn

ing, nor pain. Bless the poor, the

homeless, the neglected, and the

ignorant. Inspire our hearts with

Thy love, that we may be friends

and companions to all Thy chil

dren who need us. Have pity on

all who foolishly trust in the false

promises of sin, and awaken them

from their deluding dreams to

timely repentance. Succour all

who are fighting against the do

minion of evil habits. If they

fall, help them to rise again; and

put within them a faith and hope

that cannot be quenched. In

spire all harassed and struggling

souls with the assurance that all

the forces of Thy will are working

for them, and are moving them

on to peace and health and holi

ness. Visit in Thy compassion

those who suffer pain, and who

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watch with eager longing through

the hours of darkness for the morn

ing light. Thou hast strangely

fashioned this body of ours.

Along its nerves shoots a thrill

of agony, and in a moment the

world is overcast and there is no

joy in the feast, nor comfort any

where. Assuage the pain, we be

seech Thee, or give the strength

needed to bear it.

Gracious Father! Be near us,

who must pass along the dim

and perilous pathway of the years,

and support us with Thy presence.

Amid danger, sorrow, and disaster,

lift up our eyes to Thy high rest

ing-place. Help us to take home

to our hearts the joyous inspi

ration that the untoward things

of life enter into thy perfect work

and achieve Thy majestic ends.

Widen our outlook until our grief

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or care shall be purged of the least

taint of selfishness, and we shall

feel ourselves one with the whole

creation, which groans and travails,

waiting for the manifestation of

the sons of God. All this we ask

in the name of Jesus Christ, our

blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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®

XXX

LRACIOUS Father! Thou

hast revealed Thyself glori

ously in Jesus Christ, the Son of

Thy love. In Him we have found

Thee, or rather, are found of Thee.

By His life, by His words and

deeds, by His trials and sufferings,

we are cleansed from sin and rise

into holiness. For in Him Thou

hast made disclosure of Thine in

most being and art drawing us into

fellowship with Thy life. As we

stand beneath His Cross, or pass

with Him into the Garden of His

Agony, it is Thy heart that we see

unveiled, it is the passion of Thy

love yearning over the sinful, the

wandering, seeking that it may

save them. No man hath seen

Thee at any time, but out from

the unknown has come the Son of

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Man to declare Thee. And now

we know Thy name. When we

call Thee Father, the mysteries of

existence are not so terrible, our

burdens weigh less heavily upon

us, our sorrows are touched with

joy. Thy Son has brought the

comfort that we need, the comfort

of knowing that in all our afflictions

Thou art afflicted, that in Thy

grief our lesser griefs are all con

tained. Let the light which shines

in His face, shine into our hearts,

to give us the knowledge of Thy

glory, to scatter the darkness of

fear, of wrong, of remorse, of fore

boding, and to constrain our lives

to finer issues of peace and powsr

and spiritual service. And these

prayers we offer in Christ's name.

Amen.

[130]

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Intercessory and Personal

Prayers

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For a Person Who Cannot Pray

^XRACIOUS Father, who givest

KEs the hunger of desire, and sat-

isfiest our hunger with good things;

quicken the heart of Thy servant

who mourns because he cannot

speak to Thee, nor hear Thee

speak to him. Refresh, we be

seech Thee, the dulness and dry

ness of his inner life. Grant

him perseverance that he may

never abandon the effort to pray,

even though it brings for a time

no comfort or joy. Enlarge his

soul's desires that he may be

drawn unto Thee. Send forth Thy

Spirit into his heart to help his

infirmities; to give him freedom of

utterance, and warmth of feeling.

Let him muse upon Thy goodness;

upon the blessings with which

Thou hast strewn his path; upon

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the mystery of the world, and the

shame of sin, and the sadness of

death, — until the fire kindles and

the heart melts in prayer and

praise and supplication.

Lord, teach him to pray the

prayer that relieves the burdened

spirit, and brings Thy blessing,

which maketh rich and addeth no

sorrow. Hear us, for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

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For a Person Who Desires

Faith

|j£^ THOU, who givest liberally

\r unto all men and upbraidest

not, give to this, Thy servant,

the desire of his heart. Thou

knowest his inward and outward

state. Whatever it be that holds

him back from self-surrender unto

Thee, grant that it may be taken

out of the way, that there may be

a free and open intercourse be

tween him and Thee. May he

be willing to trust where he can

not prove; willing to believe his

better moments in spite of all that

contradicts them. Open his eyes

to see Thee as Thou art, infinitely

real, infinitely gracious, infinitely

good. Speak to him in the daily

witness of earth and sky; in the

goodness and tender mercy of

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human hearts; above all, in the

words and works of Thy perfect

Son in whom Thou hast spoken

the "everlasting yea" that puts

to flight our every care. Take

from him all dread of evils that

may never happen. Grant him

the victory over every besetting

doubt; and patience while any

darkness remains, that he may

glorify Thee, through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

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For a Person Troubled with

Evil Thoughts

/fMfOST Merciful Father, who

^JfV'%' orderest the wills and affec

tions of men; inspire in the heart

of this Thy servant holy wishes

and aspirations, that all base im

aginings and sinful broodings may

be cast out. Spirit of purity

and grace, cleanse the thoughts

of his heart and bring his whole

being into captivity to the law

of Christ. So direct and control

his mind that he may ever think

on whatsoever things are true

and pure and lovely. Let no

corrupt thought get dominion

over him. Enter Thou into the

house of his soul. Enlarge and

renew it and consecrate it to Thy

self, that he may love Thee with

all his mind and serve Thee with

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all Aw might. Free fern from the

fascinations of false pleasures and

the allurements of debasing de

sires. Fill his eyes with the eternal

beauty of goodness, that vice and

sin may appear as they really are,

the last shame and despair of life.

Keep him outwardly in his body

and inwardly in his soul, and con

strain him to reverential obedience

to the laws Thou hast ordained for

both. Sustain him in health of

body that he may the better con

trol the motions of thought, and

repel the assaults of passion. We

ask it for Thy Son our Saviour's

sake. Amen.

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For a Victim of Fear

/ITS THOU, who art the ever-

Klr blessed God, the underlying

Peace of the world, and who

wouldst draw aH men into the

companionship of Thy joy; speak,

we beseech Thee, to this Thy

servant, for whom we pray. Take

him by the hand and say unto him,

"Fear not; for I am with thee. I

have called thee by my name; thou

art mine." Put such a spirit of

trust within him that all fear and

foreboding shall be cast out, and

that right reason and calm assur

ance may rule his thoughts and

impulses. Let quietness and confi

dence be his strength. Reveal to

him the vision of a universe guided

and governed by Thy wise and

loving care; and show him that

around and about him are Thy

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unseen and beneficent powers.

Lift up his whole being into com

munion with Thy life and thought.

Let him ever remember that Thou

dost not give to any a spirit of fear-

fulness, but a spirit of power and

love and self-mastery. In this

faith, grant, O Lord, that he may

summon the energies of his soul

against the miseries that cast him

down. Give him courage, confi

dence, an untroubled heart, and a

love that loves all creatures, great

and small, for Thy love's sake.

Amen.

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For a Victim of Worry

eVER Blessed God, whose word

is, "Peace, peace to him that

is far off and to him that is near",

fulfil Thy promise to this Thy ser

vant for whom we pray. Rescue

him from the misery of groundless

fears and restless anxieties. Take

him more and more out of himself,

that duty may be no longer a

drudgery but a delight. Lead him

into the secret of Thy peace which

quiets every misgiving and fills the

heart with joy and confidence.

Save him from the shame and

emptiness of a hurried life. Grant

him to possess his soul in patience.

Amid the storms and stress of life,

let him hear a deeper voice assur

ing him that Thou livest and that

all is well. Strengthen him to do

his daily work in quietness and

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confidence, fearing no to-morrow,

nor the evil that it brings, for Thou

art with him. And this we ask for

Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

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For a Person Suffering from

Neurasthenia

tfTLMIGHTYandAll-lovingGod,

**" who giveth power to the faint

and increaseth strength to him that

hath no might; visit in mercy

this Thy servant, sunken in deep

depression, and made to possess

days and nights of misery. Thou

knowest this frame of ours, which

Thou hast so fearfully and wonder

fully made; how its wounds and

bruises hurt and weaken the powers

of the soul. Out of the depths of

weariness and pain and apprehen

sion, Thy servant lifts a cry to

Thee for help. Hasten to his

succour, 0 Lord. Turn his eyes

from his disordered life to Thee,

the source of all order and peace

in the universe. Make him to

feel that Thou art Soul of his

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soul. Open his heart that Thy

healing forces may find free access

and may restore to unity and

soundness all the functions of

brain and soul. Let a conscious

ness of Thy love cast out all fear;

let a sense of Thy reality and

nearness put to flight the spectres

of the mind; let the still small

voice of Thy Spirit conquer the

voices of distrust and self-despair

with the glad conviction that out

of weakness Thou canst make

strong, that underneath and

around him are the everlasting

arms of Thy compassion. For

give the sins of the past. Reveal

to him the vision of a new future;

of a life made free and strong and

beautiful in the glory of Thy grace,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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For a Person Suffering from

Insomnia

fjf\ THOU, who keepest the

\iS night-watches of the world;

have compassion on this Thy ser

vant, who seeks rest and can

not find it. Thou, the Unsleeping

One, givest sleep to all Thy crea

tures. Wherefore we entreat Thee

for Thy servant that he may

rejoice in the sweet oblivion

wherein Thy healing forces abide.

Thou seest his sad state of body

and of mind. When it is even

ing, he cries, "Would God it were

morning!" and when the morn

ing comes, he has no pleasure in it.

Temper to him the hours of wake

fulness by soothing memories and

thoughts of dear ones, and thanks

givings for all the good things

thou hast bestowed upon him.

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May he feel his past, Aw present,

and his future alike beset by Thy

faithfulness which is good and Thy

compassions that fail not. Let no

worry harass his mind. Let no

fear disturb his heart. Give him

to feel that Thou canst transform

the blunders of the vanished years

and make them ministers of good.

O divine and holy Peace! enter

his soul that no shadows from out

the past and no presentiments of

ill in the future may frighten sleep

away ! But gently steep his senses

in unconsciousness, and give him

to know the blessedness of that

ancient word, "He giveth His be

loved sleep." And we will praise

Thee now and ever through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

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For a Person Suffering from

Depression

/ff* GOD, Almighty and All-

X&T good, have pity upon this

Thy afflicted servant, who from

the depths of sadness would lift a

cry to Thee. Restore to him, we

pray Thee, the joy of life. Be

Thou the strength of his heart,

the Light in his gloom, and the

Lifter up of his head. Inspire him

with new courage to throw off the

thoughts that oppress; to bear

with patience the trial of his faith.

Grant him prudence and under

standing that he may avoid those

outward things that cast him down;

and instead may cherish every

good and hopeful inspiration and

receive comfort from those who

rejoice and are strong. Make him

gladwith the assurance that though

[147]

g goofe of gragerg

the night cometh, the morning

cometh also. Let Thy blessing

accompany the means appointed

for his help. Deliver him out of

prison that he may praise Thy

name, through our Lord and

Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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3 JESSE of drapers

For a Person Threatened

with Insanity

1TIGHT of our light, eternal

J** Reason in whom our finite

minds exist, and in whose crea

tive powers they share; visit in

mercy this Thy servant, who now

stands under the shadow of a

great calamity. We are mys

teries to ourselves and know not

the secrets of our mental life;

but Thou art acquainted with all

our ways and understandest our

thought afar off. The inmost

ground of our being is well-known

to Thee, for Thou dwellest in us,

Soul of our souls. Through hidden

and marvellous ways, known only

to Thee, Thou canst bring help to

the distracted spirit, unity and

control to the disordered imagi

nation. Pierce Thou the gloom

8 Hook of draper*

with Thy light; and let the

beam in darkness grow until all

the energies of mind shall be re

stored to their normal exercise.

Turn aside the threatened ill,

we beseech Thee, and let not Thy

servant sink into the pit of de

spair. Show him some token for

good that he may take fresh hope

and rouse the forces of order and

sanity against every thing that

vexes or disturbs. Answer us for

Thy mercy's sake. Amen.

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For a Person Striving to Over

come the Alcohol Habit

/ff\ GOD, most mighty and most

KP^ compassionate, hear our

prayers in behalf of this Thy serv

ant, who is making the first tremb

ling efforts to conquer the demon

that has so long held him in servi

tude. We rejoice that Thou hast

inspired him to rise in Thy strength

against this evil power. Help him

to stand, and should he fall, grant

that he may not be discouraged,

but rather that he may strengthen

the weak places of his character,

and gird himself anew for the

conflict. Thou knowest the force

and subtlety of the temptation;

how it comes in the most alluring

guise; how it promises freedom

from care and exaltation above

the stings and arrows of the world;

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how it curses and degrades its

victim and works woe and shame

to all who love him. Have pity,

O Lord, upon him for whom we

pray. Bless the means, medical

and moral, that are being used

for his recovery. Surround him

with earnest and hopeful friends

who may encourage and sustain

him in his hours of weakness.

Kindle in his heart the fire of

some noble ambition, some spirit

ual desire that may burn up all

base appetite, all craving for an

unworthy self-indulgence. It is

not meet that Thy child should

be held bound by this evil thing.

Break the fetters that enchain him,

and set him free to serve Thee

with a right and quiet mind. And

we will give Thee all the praise

now and ever. Amen.

[152]

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For the Insane

fTj^OST gracious God, who en-

^3^^ viest the good of none of

Thy creatures and forsakest noth

ing Thou hast made; we plead

before Thee the cause of those

whose light has become darkness,

whose souls wander in waste places,

seeking rest and finding none.

"Even the darkness hideth not

from Thee; but the night shineth

as the day." Thou seest the

affliction of Thy children; Thou

knowest its beginning and its end

and all its sadness. Have pity

upon all who are bearing the sins

of those who have gone before.

Thy laws change not from age to

age; yet we believe that Thy

mercy is from everlasting to ever

lasting and rejoices against judg

ment. Let Thy love comfort the

[153]

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innocent who cry in their anguish

and " with no language but a cry."

Graciously help those who by

sin and folly have brought harm

upon themselves. Let the glory

of Thy compassion shine through

the gloom to give hope to the

despairing, courage to the down

cast, peace to the restless and ill

at ease.

We bless Thee for Thy servants,

the physicians who seek to heal

the troubles of the mind. We

thank Thee for the newer knowl

edge and the finer skill with which

Thy Spirit has inspired them.

Lead them still more deeply into

the secrets of our common nature,

and crown their every effort with

success. Pour out upon us all the

spirit of the Son of Man, the

spirit that yearns to restore to

human fellowship all who have

[154]

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fallen by the way. Hear our

prayer, and help us not only to

pray but to work in Thy name

and to Thy glory, now and ever.

Amen.

[155]

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For a Person Haunted with

the Fear of Committing

Suicide

/fltYOST merciful God, unto

^jjvl' whom all hearts are open

and from whom no secret is hid;

look in pity upon this unhappy

child of Thine, in whose heart a

secret fear takes the joy from life.

O Thou who hast made him a

living soul, sustain within him

such a faith as shall cast out all

fear. Open his eyes to the beauty

and the glory of the world. Re

veal to him the sacred opportu

nities of service. Grant him to

behold the embrace of Thy love,

holding him up and keeping

him safe. Help him to throw

himself upon Thine everlasting

strength. Fill him with courage

and new hope that he may tread

[156]

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down this fear. Deepen within

him the consciousness of Thine

indwelling presence, the assurance

that Thou art always with him to

keep back Thy servant from pre

sumptuous sin. Out of weakness

may he be made strong, because

Thy hand is laid upon him; and

then may he have grace to make

others strong. Grant this, our

prayer, for our Redeemer's sake.

Amen.

[157]

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For a Person Who Fears that

in Dying He Will Lose a

Sense of Personal Identity

sft% THOU, who art from ever-

\Ls lasting, and who livest in

every creature made in Thy image;

we pray for this, Thy servant, that

he may be delivered from the

bondage of the fear of death.

Teach him that Thou art the God,

not of the dead, but of the living;

that all souls share in Thy immor

tal life; that because Thou livest,

he will live also. Let him lose

himself in Thee, only that he may

find himself in a more glorious

being. Reveal Thyself to him as

Thou art, an infinitude where

there is room for all spirits, who

may reflect in diverse ways the

glory of Thy love and thought.

Take from death its last sting, the

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fear that in dying we lose our

personality. Give unto us all a

larger measure of the trust and

the hope that can say with Thine

own Son, " Father, into Thy hands

I commend my spirit," knowing

that Thou wilt not turn away from

our cry, but wilt do for us exceeding

abundantly above all that we ask

or think. And unto Thee be all

the glory in Christ Jesus for ever

and ever. Amen.

[159]

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For A Person Suffering from

a Serious Illness

r'ERNAL Father, strong to

save! stretch forth Thy hand,

and graciously heal Thy sick ser

vant whom we remember before

Thee. Our help is in Thee. Are

we not Thy children, and art

Thou not our Father? We bear

our brother in the arms of faith

into Thy presence, and we ask

Thee to lift from off him the

burden of disease and restore him

to his family and his friends, in

the fulness of health and strength.

To this end we pray that Thou

wouldest accompany with Thy

favour the various agencies that

are being used for his recovery.

Give insight and skill to the

physicians; tenderness and wis

dom to the nurses; trust and

[1601

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confidence and good courage to

those who watch and wait in sore

anxiety. Fill the sick room with

the brightness of Thy presence. O

Thou true Physician, who hatest

disease and pain and sickness,

bring to Thy suffering servant,

peace and rest and the healing

gift of sleep. "Lord, if he sleep,

he shall do well." Above all be

stow upon him those spiritual

blessings which are better than

life. Let this present affliction

detach and purify his heart and

make it meet for Thy dwelling

place. Give him patience that

he may bear pain and weakness

bravely; that he may abandon

himself wholly to Thee and lie un

reservedly in Thy hands. Grant

him repentance and pardon for all

the sins of the past, and fill his

soul with visions of a holier future.

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Answer these prayers for the sake

of Jesus Christ, Thy only Son,

our Lord. Amen.

[162]

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For a Sick Child

|fllYOST merciful and most piti-

^jin ful Father! visit this child,

we beseech Thee, with Thy healing

power. We believe that Thou art

both able and willing to help us.

When Thy Son dwelt among us,

He revealed the love and desire of

Thy heart by restoring those who

were sick in body or in mind in

answer to the cry of faith. Thou

art the same tender and loving

Father to-day. Increase our faith

that we too may receive from Thee

a gift, even the life of this child.

Bless those who minister to him.

Give them wisdom, skill, tender

ness, and an ever-undaunted hope.

Endue with healing virtue the

means being used to combat his

disorder. Lay Thy hand upon

him to save and to raise him up.

[163]

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We pray for his soul's health.

Keep him pure and unspotted

from the evil that is in the world.

Consecrate him anew to Thyself

that in sickness or in health he

may be Thine, to witness to Thy

Kingdom where reigns the spirit

of a child. Bless those who espe

cially love him and who now watch

and wait with troubled hearts.

Banish from them despair. Give

them an abundant hope and a liv

ing trust and an earnest prayer.

This we ask for Jesus Christ's sake.

Amen.

[1641

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For a Person about to Undergo

a Surgical Operation

|ELP of the helpless, Comfort

of the comfortless! we en

treat Thee in behalf of this

afflicted one who must soon pass

through an ordeal, the thought of

which tries and vexes him.

Thou canst heal and Thou canst

save. From Thee flows forth

eternally a tide of healing energy

to destroy the ravages of sickness,

pain and death. Set Thy servant,

through trust and confidence in

Thee, in the currents of Thy

saving power, so that he may

surrender himself wholly to Thy

keeping. Grant that he may fall

gently and sweetly asleep, un

disturbed in body or in mind.

Guard him through the hours of

unconsciousness, and restore him

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in due time to the world on which

he has for a while shut his eyes.

We thank Thee for the resources

of medical science, for their power

to assuage pain and bring peace

to the suffering nerves. Guide the

surgeon's knife, so that through

the wounds which it must make,

there may enter the forces that

cure and save. Give to all who

care for Thy servant, physicians

and nurses and friends, the wis

dom, the patience, the tenderness,

which will assure him that he is

safe in Thy hands, and shielded

by Thy goodness. Awaken faith

in the heart of the sufferer, and

of those who watch by his bedside

that it may be done unto them

according to their faith, through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[166]

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For a Person Suffering from

Acute Bodily Pain

^IT'HOU knowest, O Lord, this

^US body of ours. Thou knowest

how susceptible it is to misery and

discomfort, how along its nerves

shoots the thrill of an intolerable

agony. Therefore do we beseech

Thee for him who asks our prayers

that Thou wouldst have pity upon

him. Lord, have mercy upon him

and help him. We know that

Thou canst, and that Thou art

more ready to have compassion

than we are to ask it of Thee.

Grant him such a sense of Thy

indwelling presence that he may

commit himself wholly to Thy

care, so that through his faith

in Thee, Thou mayst give to

him surcease of pain and the

glad consciousness of health.

[167]

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Bless Thy minister, the physician

who seeks to help the ailing body.

Give him clearness of mind and

skilfulness of touch and tender

ness of heart, so that he may

become the organ of Thy healing

mercy, and enabled to relieve the

suffering, and bring peace and

strength to the exhausted frame.

If for a time the pain mustcontinue,

give Thy servant grace to endure

it. Let him think of the Divine

Sufferer, who in meekness and

submission endured the Cross, and

despised the shame. Upheld by

His example may he conquer pain

and rise out of it purified and

strengthened and made more meet

for Thy service, through Jesus

Christ. Amen.

[168]

3 JBaak of drapers

For a Person at the Point

of Death

1JMMORTAL Father, from

<*J Thee we come and to Thee

we return. Hear our prayer for

this Thy servant, who lies in

great weakness, and who, to all

human seeming, is about to de

part hence. Strengthen and com

fort him with a sense of Thy

peace. Grant him to place his

trust and confidence in Thy gra

cious promises; and then, though

he walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, he need fear no

evil. Let him put his hand in

Thine, and in quiet assurance

pass with Thee, as a child with

his father, to Thy home of love

and joy and rest. Scatter Thou

the clouds of sin and fear. Give

him a spirit of penitence and

[169]

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hope. Sustain him with a vision

of the blessedness which Thou

hast prepared for them who, re

penting their sins and failures,

would be done with self and at

one with Thee. Reveal Thy Son

Jesus Christ in his heart as the

Risen One who has conquered

death and evil, not for Himself

only, but for all the sinful chil

dren of men. Take Thy servant

into Thy holy keeping, into the

nearer embrace of Thy love and

mercy. And grant that we may

all meet at last in Thy many man

sions above, through Jesus Christ

our Blessed Lord and Saviour.

Amen.

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For an Incurably Crippled

Child

/MfOST merciful Father, whose

JiVl heart beats in sympathy

with the sorrow of Thy children,

and whose will is ever working

against pain and evil, we beseech

Thee in behalf of this child, af

flicted with much bodily weakness,

sore hindered in the race of life.

Inspire him with the spirit of

patience. Give him the virtue of

endurance. Teach him that even

as Thy Son was perfected through

suffering meekly borne, so too,

every lesser cross may become a

gift from Thee, rich in all spiritual

blessing. Open to him, in Thy

good time, the mystery of suffer

ing. Never let him fall into

the spirit of complaint and dis

couragement; of doubt and fear;

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of introspection and self-pity. Lift

him out of himself that he may

trust in Thine eternal strength and

wisdom; that he may think of

others who also suffer and are

weary and long for comfort. And

so may his own pain grow less,

and his own burden grow light.

Fill his heart with a sense of Thy

love; with thanksgiving for all the

blessings of his daily life; for dear

parents, kind friends and good

books; for the opportunities of

power and service that still remain.

Give him some work to do for

Thee and enable him to pass from

strength to strength until at last

he see Thee in Thy heavenly King

dom. We ask this for Christ's

sake. Amen.

[172]

& Pool of -praperS

For a Person Suffering from a

Sense of Loneliness

COMPANION of our souls!

Friend that sticketh closer

than a brother! Hear our prayers

for this Thy servant, who feels

lonely and forsaken, alone upon

the wide sea of humanity. Thou

hast made us, in the inmost ground

of our being, with desires for fel

lowship, with a nature that is un

finished until it completes itself

in union with others. Comfort

Thy servant with a sense of Divine

companionship. May he look up

into Thy face and learn to say,

"I am alone, yet not alone, for

the Father is with me." Speak to

him through other lives. Raise

up to him friends and brothers, and

draw his heart to them that the

joy of comradeship may be his;

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that never again may he be

tempted to say within himself,

"Who am I, that I should be

remembered among so great a

multitude?" May Thine ancient

comfort sustain and strengthen

him, "Though a woman may for

get the son of her womb, yet will

not I forget Thee." Answer this

prayer for Christ's sake. Amen.

[174]

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For a Person Haunted with the

Fear of having Committed

the Unpardonable Sin

/fT% THOU who art Love, behold

\&F in pity Thy servant, held

in bondage to a secret fear that he

is beyond thy forgiving mercy,

lost in a darkness where Thou art

not. Free him from the dominion

of these sad thoughts. Chase away

the phantoms of a morbid imagi

nation, by the health-giving beams

of Thy light. Reveal to him the

infinitude of Thy mercy, so that he

may be well assured that there

is no sin which Thou art not

willing to forgive. May he rest

in faith on Thine own word: "I

have blotted out, as a thick cloud,

Thy transgressions; return unto

me, for I have redeemed thee."

We pray that Thy blessing may

[1751

21 Jtook of -prayers

rest upon all the means that are

being used for the restoration of

Thy servant to peace of mind. Re

move the causes, physical and

mental, that make for his present

misery. Let a spirit of right rea

son, of a patient trust, of unselfish

labour, wean his thoughts from the

tyranny of unwholesome and self-

centred brooding. And with a

mind wholly possessed with a sense

of Thy goodness, may he give

thanks to Thee and praise Thy

name evermore. Amen.

[176]

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For a Woman Burdened with

Domestic Cares

sfpk THOU who bearest the

XP burdens of Thy children, and

faintest not, neither art weary; be

present with thy strength and

patience to this Thy servant, who,

cumbered with much serving, is

troubled about many things.

Make clear her vision that she

may behold the beauty of common

things. Teach her that the ordi

nary task has power to draw her

close to Thee. Take from her the

spirit of discouragement and re

pining; of anxious brooding; of

untrustful care. Comfort her with

the assurance that not the least

labour done for Thee is done in

vain. Amid the petty cares and

irritating concerns of her days,

bring her into the secret place of

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JSLjBonfc oiS&zapmi

Thy silence where Thou givest rest

and refreshment. Whether resting

or working, grant her to be at

peace with herself, with Thee, and

with the world. Ease her heart,

O Lord, of its small troubles and

fill it with joy and gladness; and

grant her to see even now some

fruition of her work in the happi

ness of those who love her and who

call her blessed. And this we ask

for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

[178]

Lfteapt

For Parents Who Have Lost

a Child by Death

AfATHER of Mercies and God

fj) of all Comfort! look in pity-

on these, Thy servants, whose

joy has been .turned into sorrow,

whose house has been left unto

them desolate. They have drunk

of the cup of bitterness; wilt Thou

not now give them the cup of

consolation? Let not their faith

die, nor their light go out in dark

ness. Give them the spirit of

Him who learned obedience by

the things which He suffered, so

that like Him, they too may say,

in meek and filial submission,

"Not my will but Thine be done."

Comfort them with the assurance

that their loved one is at rest in

Thee and will be remembered in

the day when Thou makest up

[179]

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the number of Thy jewels. In

this hour of trial draw Thy ser

vants close to Thy love and help

them to trust Thee and to be

lieve that deeper than the pain

and the mystery of death are the

everlasting arms of Thy tender

mercy. Hear our prayers for the

sake of Him who is our only

Mediator and Advocate, our

Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

[180]

g gogfe of -grapent

In Remembrance of Departed

Friends

'Tf ORD of all spirits in all worlds !

J^ We remember before Thee

our loved ones who have passed

into Thy perfect rest. We thank

Thee that their night of sorrow

has been followed by the joy

of Thy everlasting morning. We

believe that they are safe in

Thee and in Thee we find them

"worthier to be loved." We would

not, even if we could, bring them

back from Thy holy Heaven to

our sinful earth, from Thy sweet

repose to our sad unrest. It is

our joy to know that death has

not stayed their spiritual progress;

that they are ever advancing to

heights not yet attained. They

follow the Lamb from fountain to

fountain of living waters. Behind

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the veil whither they have gone

our hearts would also go, and

through Thee would hold com

munion with them for a space.

As we contemplate their bliss and

think of all the blessing they have

wrought us, may our sorrow grow

less and our hope grow brighter

until Thou dost give them back

to us, and us to them, in the land

where Thy glory dwelleth. Amen.

[182]

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For Children

QTLMIGHTY Father, we bless

<*^ Thee for the children Thou

hast given us, and for all the joys

they have brought us. Truly

children are a heritage from Thee.

We would consecrate them anew

to Thy service; we would train

them in the knowledge and love

of Thy commands. Reveal to

them the glory and the beauty of

life. Enable them to rise to their

supreme opportunities; to cast

aside all frivolity and carelessness;

and to make ready body and mind

for the work that awaits them.

Inspire them with a spirit of

truth and courage and self-control.

Arm them against the temptations

of their own hearts and of the

world around. Let no evil passion

have dominion over them. Write

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the law of kindness in their hearts,

that they may hate all cruelty with

a perfect hatred and love all good

ness and mercy with a perfect love.

May the Child Christ lead them

and teach them, so that as they

grow in age they may grow in

grace, and at the last may behold

Thy face without fear or shame.

Grant an answer to our prayer,

through Jesus Christ. Amen.

[184]

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For a Mother Grieving for a

Wayward Child

/|T% THOU who art more than

\& father and mother to Thy

children; hear the prayers and

look on the sorrows of this, Thy

servant. Thou knowest the in

finite yearning of a mother's heart.

Thou hast inspired her with a

love most like Thine; a love that

gives all and pardons all; a love

that still prays and waits and

hopes when all lesser loves are

silent. Thou beholdest the tears

of this mother, and we know that

not one of them shall fall for

gotten of Thee. May a glad sur

prise come to her by Thine

abundant answer to her prayer.

Turn the heart of her child to

her in renewed love and- sorrow

ful regret; and unite them

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evermore in the bonds of a new

affection. Say to her, as was

said to a mother in the olden

time, "Woman, go Thy way. The

child of such tears can never

perish." We ask Thee to answer

our prayer for Jesus Christ's sake.

Amen.

[186]

a pBoofe of drapers!

For the Aged

fjf% THOU, whose years are

S& throughout all generations,

and who abidest though all else

passes away; we pray for those

whose days are far spent and

whose appointed time to de

part is drawing nigh. Amid the

shadows of evening grant them

the vision of Thy glorious morn

ing. As the outward man per

ishes, may the inner man be

renewed day by day. Teach them

to bear with patience the infirmi

ties of age. Comfort and sustain

them with the hands of friend

ship and love and sympathy. In

their ever-growing loneliness, as

friend after friend departs,* be

Thou to them their faithful Com

panion, the same yesterday, to

day, and forever. Take from

[187]

& jtaofc of flragetg

them all despair of the world;

all regret of vanished days; all

impatience with the plans and

interests of the present time.

Give them a forward look; a joy

ous faith; and when life's day is

ended, grant them to lie down to

rest in perfect peace and in the

joyous assurance that Thou hast

in store for them such good things

as pass man's understanding. Hear

this our prayer for our Saviour's

sake. Amen.

[188]

& $took of $kaperfli

For the Poor

/fPN GOD of mercy! Thou know-

KU' est the bitterness of poverty

and the barrenness it spreads on life.

Thou knowest how it darkens and

tempts and embitters the soul, and

divides man from his brother,

and makes faith in Thy goodness

and care seem well-nigh impossible.

When poverty is a needed disci

pline, may Thy children bear it

with patience, and find in it liberty

of soul and enrichment of the world

within. But too often it is not of

Thy sending. Too often it comes

from the selfishness and greed and

wrong-doing of men. Be present

with Thy help and blessing in

homes thus made sad. Forbid that

within them the voice of unbe

lief, or envy, or rebellion should

be heard; but may trust in Thee,

[189]

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and gentle patience and prudent

forethought sustain the life of

the soul against every threaten

ing ill. Put into the hearts of all

good men a love for the poor.

Raise up to those who are

in need wise friends and coun

sellors, through whose ministry

Thou mayst provide a way of

relief. And grant, 0 Lord, that

justice and brotherly love may

prevail. May we not only de

liver the poor man from his dis

tress, but may we also, in the

strength of Thy spirit, attack and

overthrow every evil power that

works impoverishment and hard

ship to Thy children. Hear our

prayer and grant that those who

are poor in this world's goods may

be rich in heavenly treasure, honour

and peace and love, through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

[190]

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For the Prosperous

|EAR us, O Lord, in behalf of

those to whom Thou hast

given the precious gifts of wealth.

May they ever praise Thee for

Thy goodness, remembering that

all skill and wisdom and strength

of body or of mind come from

Thee, and that they possess noth

ing which they have not received

from Thy hand. Teach them that

with Thy gift Thou givest them

a great responsibility; that Thou

hast lent them their riches not for

their own enjoyment only, but to

increase the well-being and happi

ness of the world. May they

realise that no material good is

to be compared with the joy of

lightening the load of another's

need. Grant them a spirit of self-

denial that they may renounce all

[191]

SlBook of HffraperfO

luxury and extravagance in the

presence of their brother's pov

erty. Keep them free from the

entanglements of worldly things,

from all that wars against sim

plicity and nobility of life, from all

pride and vain glory, from love

of power, from false ambitions,

from contempt of the poor and

the unprivileged. Bestow upon

them the grace of the Lord Jesus

who, though he was rich, yet for

our sakes became poor that we

through His poverty might be

come rich; and may they be will

ing to follow in His footsteps and

to spend and be spent in the serv

ice of their brothers. And this

we beg for His sake. Amen.

[192]

3 $oofc of -Erapenf

For Prisoners

/MfERCIFUL God whose Prov-

/J^l idence is over all Thy

works, and whose Love embraces

Thine erring children; remember

for good all who have been judged

guilty under the law in our courts

of justice; all who suffer the pen

alty for wrong doing in the house

of bondage; all who in mind,

body, and soul bear the bitter

consequences of crime. Amid the

austere justice of man, open

in their souls springs of comfort;

visit them through Thy Holy

Spirit with mercy, sympathy, par

don, and peace. Let Thy Divine

compassion awaken in them the

desire to return unto Thee in

the spirit of meekness and godly

sorrow. Teach them, O Father,

that no sin is beyond Thy forgive

1193]

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ness; that no wound of the soul

is too great for Thy healing power.

Banish from them alike the spirit

of impenitence and of despair.

Lift their eyes from their shame

and misery, and fix them on the

gift Thou art offering them — a

new self, free from self-reproach,

beautiful with the grace of a re

stored innocence, and full of the

promise of better things. Fill

their minds with good thoughts

and their hearts with pure long

ings. Let Thy Spirit breathe

within them new resolves, and let

all who love Thee, help and

strengthen the penitent in his

struggle to amend. And, O Lord,

if there be any in the gaols and

prisons of the world, who suffer

wrongfully through the ignorance

or malice of men, we pray for

them. May they never say, "My

[194]

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way is hid from the Lord and the

justice due to me is passed from

my God," but committing their

cause to Thee, may they in pa

tience wait for the day when

Thou shalt establish their integ

rity in the eyes of all men. Amid

outward distress, let them enjoy

Thy peace, the peace of a quiet

and innocent mind. Accept our

prayers and answer them for

Christ's sake. Amen.

[195]

g Poob of ^raperi

For Doctors of Medicine

|jt% THOU, from whom cometh

\ir all healing, who hast created

the physician in honour and hast

armed him with medicines and

skill: we pray for all those whom

Thou hast called to practise the

healing art. Grant that a double

portion of the spirit of counsel

and understanding may rest upon

them, so that every sufferer that

seeks their help may not go away

discouraged, but rather cheered

and comforted and set upon the

road that leads to health. Save

Thy servants from the seductions

of lower aims ; from love of money,

or of fame. May the distresses

of rich and poor make to them the

same solemn appeal of pity. Pour

upon them a still larger measure

of the enthusiasm of humanity, of

[196]

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the spirit of self-sacrifice. Draw

them into fellowship with those

who in every age have laid down

their lives for their brethren, and

have joined in the procession of

Thy noble army of martyrs. Give

them still greater victories over

disease and pain and death; and

put within them a spirit of piety,

that would ever say, "Not unto

us, but unto Thee, 0 Lord, be all

the glory." We ask this in Christ's

name. Amen.

[197]

fl jjoofc of ffrapetg

For Nurses

ME thank Thee, most loving

God, that Thou hast put

it into the hearts of so many to

give their lives to the helping and

comforting of Thy children, the

sick. We pray for them that Thou

wouldest grant them the needed

strength of body and of mind for

their heavy tasks. They need

patience with the fretful and the

wayward; sympathy with the de

spondent and the suffering; power

to say the needed word; skill to

guide the wandering mind; tender

ness to touch with healing strength

the bruised and afflicted body;

wisdom to learn that there is a time

to be silent, that the heart knows a

secret bitterness with which no

stranger can intermeddle. When

we think of the greatness of the

[198]

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work to which Thou hast called

Thy servants, we ask, "Who is

sufficient for these things?" Not

of themselves, but of Thee, cometh

their sufficiency. Out of the riches

of Thy grace, supply all their need,

we beseech Thee. May they ever

bear in mind the glory Thou hast

put upon them in calling them

to share with Jesus Christ, the

Servant of humanity, in minister

ing to those who have fallen by

the wayside of life; that at the

last they may hear with gladness

His gracious word, "I was sick

and ye visited me. Enter ye into

the joy of your Lord." These

petitions we present in His name

and we ask Thee to hear us for

His sake. Amen.

[199]

g Jitook of drapers

For Students

31d|EAR us, O never-failing Light,

{*% Fount of all Truth, Source

of all Wisdom, as we pray for

those who are called to the tasks of

learning, to the discipline of the

intellect. Inspire all students with

the desire for reality in thought,

that they may know Thee, the

ultimate Truth, the Infinite Mind,

whose thoughts they can but think

again. Cast out all intellectual

vanity and vain-glory. Forbid

that they should ever pretend to

a knowledge they do not pos

sess. Make them to be faithful

in all their work, loyal to their

teachers, earnestly desirous of the

best gifts, yet ever rejoicing in

another's success. Fill them with

great hopes for the future, with

pure and unselfish ambitions, that

[200]

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in due time they may give of what

they have received and impart

some good to those who are igno

rant and out of the way. Spirit

of all counsel and knowledge!

Guide the feet of Thy servants

into the paths of eternal life.

May their souls be lamps of

Thine, burning and shining with

the truth, dimmed by no evil pas

sion, darkened by no deadly sin.

May it be theirs to have the se

cret of Christ, which is the secret

of blessedness, without which all

other learning is but dust and

ashes. We ask this for his sake.

Amen.

[201 J

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For Teachers

ME bless Thee, O God, for

the men and women whom

Thou hast called to the work of

training the young. We thank Thee

for the influence of teachers upon

our lives and characters. We would

never forget the greatness of the

debt we owe them. We remember

how patient they were with our

dulness, how forbearing with our

perverseness, how sympatheticwith

our discouragement, how helpful

and generous in all their work of

guidance and instruction.

We bless Thee for the self-

denial and devotion of Thy ser

vants who in school and college

and university are making the

generation that is to be. Grant

that we may uphold them by our

interest and prayers and good

[202]

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will. Sustain them in all their

labour of love. In hours of de

spondency, cheer them; in hours

of weariness, be present with Thy

renewing strength. Glorify their

effort with a sense of Thy pres

ence. Fill them with a con

sciousness of the solemn issues of

their calling. May they give to

those committed to their charge

not their time and talent only,

but themselves as well. Grant

them to remember that they are

forming human souls, whose hopes

and fears, faiths and doubts reach

out beyond the passing years.

Keep them mindful of that hour

when the Master of masters will

appear, Christ the Lord of angels

and of men, to examine every

man's conscience and to reward

every man as his work shall be.

We pray in His Name. Amen.

[203]

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For Handworkers

|j£^ THOU, who workest hith-

KP^ erto, and still workest in

creation and in providence; be

very gracious to all who are called

to lives of toil, and who bear the

heat and the burden of the day.

Grant them strength for every

task, lest they become discouraged

and their spirits faint and fail

within them. Whatsoever their

hands find to do, let them do it

with all their might in remem

brance of the night coming on so

fast when no man can work. In

spire them with a sense of duty,

that they may be daunted by no

hardness, tempted to no stint of

effort or of care. Grant them to

meet the tasks of each day with

a bright and cheerful face, and

when evening comes to thank

[204]

3 poofe of drapers

Thee that they have been enabled

to add a little to the wealth, the

well-being and the happiness of

the world. And while they work

for the bread that perishes, help

them, O Lord, to remember that

other Bread, of which, if any

man eat, he shall never hunger

again. Take from them all class-

jealousy and envy of others

richer in worldly things than

themselves; all greed and self-

seeking, all hatred and bitter

ness; and fill their hearts with

tenderness and love toward all

men, rich and poor alike. Never

let them forget the dignity, of

work, or sink into the servile

mind through men-pleasing. But

rather let them recall the figure

of Thy Son who dwelt among us

in the guise of a workman, and

turned every human duty into a

[205]

& IBoofe of fkapers

divine privilege. Reveal to each

worker the secret of Christ, that

work may nowhere be a curse but

everywhere a blessing and that at

the last those who have laboured

here in sweat and trial may hear

Thy voice saying to them, "Well

done, good and faithful servants;

you have been faithful over a few

things; I will set you over many

things." Grant this for Jesus

Christ's sake. Amen.

[206]

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For Ministers of Religion

gTLMIGHTY God our Heavenly

<d- Father, we bless Thee for those

Thou hast set apart to minister in

spiritual things. Give them an unc

tion from the Holy One that they

may speak the truth in love. Put

within them the spirit of prophet

and seer that, in the presence of evil

or wrong, in the society or the indi

vidual, they may cry aloud and

spare not. Grant that they may so

proclaim Thy Word that the care

less may be arrested; the sorrowing,

comforted; the tempted, made

strong; the weary and heavy-laden,

refreshed. Bless Thy servants as

they break the bread of life among

Thy people, whether in the minis

trations of Thy House, or in private

intercourse with those who seek

their help. Be with them in hours

[207]

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of despondency. When heart and

flesh fail, be Thou the strength

of their hearts and their portion

forever. Keep alive within them

the fires of faith and courage that

they may never despair of the

world or of themselves. May they

be willing to bear the reproach of

Christ and even to be counted

fools for His sake, if only they

may win some souls for truth and

goodness. Consecrate them to a

divine simplicity of purpose that,

renouncing all earthly prizes and

ambitions, they may answer with

glad hearts Thy call to work with

Thee for the redemption of the

world. And in this work let them

find their all-sufficient reward.

These graces and gifts we beseech

Thee to give through Him whom

Thou hast made Lord and Head

of Thy Kingdom. Amen.

[208]

3 poofe of drapers

For Missionaries

(0THOU who hast made

all nations of men to seek

Thee and to find Thee ; bless,

we beseech Thee, Thy . sons and

daughters who have gone forth,

into distant lands, bearing in their

hands Thy Word of Life. We

rejoice that, touched with the en

thusiasm of Christ, so many have

consecrated their lives to pro

claiming the message of Thy love

to those other sheep of Thine who

are not of our fold that they

may be united with us and that

there may be one flock and one

Shepherd. Help Thy ministering

servants to recognise the frag

ments of truth and goodness that

are ever found where men are sin

cere and to claim these glimpses

of Thyself as the prophecies of a

[209]

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fuller revelation. When discour

aged by the hardness of their task,

and the meagre fruit of all their

labour, give them faith to see the

far-off whitening harvest. In

spire them with Thy gracious

promise that though the sower

may go forth weeping, bearing

precious seed, he will come again

with joy, bringing his sheaves

with him. Comfort them in their

exile and loneliness with a sense

of Thy companionship and with

the prayers and sympathy of their

brethren at home. Through them

let Thy Word have free course

and be glorified. And so let Thy

Kingdom come, and Thy Will be

done on earth as in Heaven, for

Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

[210]

3 Ifoott of drapers

For Friends on a Journey

s£\ GOD, our Guide and Guar-

\ff dian; hear us as we pray for

our friends who now are gone upon

a journey. Though separated from

us, they are near to Thee. We

commit them to Thy care, in the

assured confidence that Thou wilt

suffer no real ill to befall them.

Be to them a Light in the dark

ness, a Covert in the tempest, a

Hiding-place from the wind, and

as the Shadow of a great rock

in a weary land. Go with them

where they go; and dwell where

they dwell. To those who open

their doors unto them, grant that

they may impart some spiritual

gift, whether in word or in deed.

In due time bring them back in

safety and contentment to their

home in the fulness of health and

1 211 J

3 Jitoofc of drapers

strength. Take us all, as we

journey through life, into Thy

holy keeping. Grant us all, when

the days of our wayfaring are

past, to dwell in Thy abode

of rest, in unbroken fellowship

with all whom we have loved.

We ask this for Jesus Christ's

sake. Amen.

[212]

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Thanksgiving for Restoration

to Health

/ff^ LORD, Giver of all good,

XiS We render unto Thee thanks

and praise for Thy kindness to

this, Thy servant, whom Thou

hast raised out of weakness and

made to stand strong by Thy

love. Thou hast been with him

in sickness and in pain. Thou

didst withdraw him from the world

for a season that Thou mightest

speak with him alone. And after

his affliction, Thou hast com

forted him. Thou hast turned

his heaviness into joy, his mourn

ing into gladness. For Thy mercy,

we bless Thee. We pray that the

time still left him may be conse

crated anew to Thy service. Send

him forth, O Lord, to the tasks of

his daily life, but not without Thy

[213]

3 $ooft of drapers

blessing in his heart. In the joy

of health be still his Guide and

Guardian. Amid the trials and dif

ficulties of his days, may he hear be

hind him that faithful word, saying,

"This is the way. Walk ye in it."

Grant that he may always keep

this way and incline to Thy will,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[214]

3 Poafe of drapers

Thanksgiving for Victory over

a Bad Habit

/fTN THOU, who proclaimest lib—

KP^ erty to the captives, and the

opening of the prisons to them that

are bound; we rejoice that Thou

hast brought the soul of this Thy

servant out of prison that he

might praise Thy name. Thou

didst inspire him with pure de

sires. Thou didst rouse him again

and again from despair and didst

sustain him in the fight for free

dom. And now we bless Thee

that Thou hast crowned his efforts

with success. Abide with him and

in him that henceforth he may

bear the fruits of good living. So

fill him with love and holiness, with

courage and trust, that through

all the coming days temptation

will lose its power. Let the dead

[215]-

& Hook of drapers

past bury its dead. Go with

him into the new world of joy and

peace and health. Inspire him

with the resolve to do something

for Thy sake, to tell another im

prisoned soul what great things

Thou hast done that, if it please

Thee, he may have a double joy.

Hear our Thanksgiving and bless

us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

1216J

Jfor personal Wlxt

& Poofe of drapers

At Night

/[JffOST merciful Father, give

.jnH- me an evening blessing.

Pardon me wherein throughout this

day I have offended Thee; accept

and bless whatever I have said or

done in accordance with Thy will.

Prosper whatever has been right

and good in my work and purposes;

bring to nought whatever is dis

pleasing to Thee. And now, O

Lord, as I commit myself to sleep,

I would give myself to Thee.

Grant me sound and refreshing

rest, unscared by evil dreams,

undisturbed by faithless worries.

And raise me up in the morning

refreshed in body and in mind and

made fit for Thy service. Grant

me Thy peace now and evermore

for Thy name's sake. Amen.

[219]

g pook of drapers

At Night

SWILL lay me down in peace

and take my rest, for it is

Thou, Lord,only that makest me to

dwell in safety. Let me sleep the

sleep of him who is heartily sorry

for his sins, and is in love and char

ity with his neighbours. I would

not seek rest this night while cher

ishing any ill-will against brother

or friend. I would forgive all who

may have wronged me as I hope

to be forgiven. In the darkness

as in the light let me be wholly

Thine. If I should waken in the

night-watches grant me patience

and quietness that I may com

mune with mine own heart and

with Thee. Wake me in the morn

ing strengthened in mind and body,

with a heart intent only on the

doing of Thy will. Amen.

[220]

& ?Boofc of drapers

At Night

yrf* BLESSED God, into Thine

KP all-protecting hands I com

mend my soul and my body that

no sin may stain the one, nor dis

ease injure the other. Open my

heart now and enter in and fill it

with Thy love. With the fire of

Thy love burn away the stains of

sin and make me pure and true.

As I sink into unconsciousness, let

it be with thoughts of Thee, of

Thy tender mercy, of Thine infinite

goodness. Let me feel myself at

rest in Thine everlasting arms, and

when I awake, let it be with bright

and joyous thoughts, with the glad

assurance that neither height nor

depths, nor any other creature,

can separate me from Thy love

which is in Christ Jesus, my Lord.

Amen.

[221]

13 $oofc of drapers

In the Morning

3N the morning, O Lord, would

I direct my prayer unto Thee

and would look up. Vouchsafe

unto me the fellowship of the Holy

Spirit as a Spirit of power, of free

dom, of purity, and of wisdom.

Let Thy Spirit bear witness with

my spirit that in spite of weakness

and shortcoming I am Thy child

and heir to all the riches of Thy

grace in Christ Jesus. O let me

walk this day and every day

worthy of my high vocation! Set

a seal upon my lips that in no

word I may offend Thee. Keep

my heart in Thy love and knowl

edge and grant that this day I

may do something solely for Thy

sake, in the strength of Jesus

Christ my Lord. Amen.

[222]

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In the Morning

,rfATHER, I thank Thee for

fjf Thy mercies which are new

every morning. For the gift of

sleep; for health and strength;

for the vision of another day with

its fresh opportunities of work

and service; for all these and more

than these, I thank Thee. Before

looking on the face of men I

would look on Thee, who art the

health of my countenance and

my God. Not without Thy guid

ance would I go forth to meet

the duties and tasks of the day.

Strengthen me so that in all my

work I may be faithful; amid

trials, courageous; in suffering,

patient; under disappointment,

full of hope in Thee. Grant this

for Thy goodness' sake. Amen.

[223]

UN F.OW '*

i».y£'iai SOWS/MTV

> Ac «z .

g Poofe of drapers

In the Morning

|j£S LORD, my refreshment and

\&S my strength, throughout the

night Thou hast spread Thy hand

upon me for a covering, and while

this little earth has swept on its

way through boundless space, I

have rested in perfect safety under

the shadow of the Almighty. Thy

faithfulness rebukes my want of

faith; Thy love, my selfishness;

Thy unresting work, my sinful

sloth. Lift up my soul into com

munion with Thy life and then I

will go forth to serve Thee and in

Thee my fellow-men, in newness of

spirit; unto Thee be all the glory

now and evermore. Amen.

[224]

g Poofe of drapers

In the Morning

A£k GOD, I know not what a day

\^ may bring forth. In perfect

confidence I would place my hand

in Thine and follow Thee this day,

whether Thou leadest me to joy

or sorrow, pleasure or pain, success

or failure. I know not what is

good for me. Thou knowest.

My deepest desire is to love what

Thou lovest, and will what Thou

wiliest. Hear my prayer for Jesus

Christ my Redeemer's sake. Amen.

[225]

& Jfoofe of drapers

In Time of Temptation

kTRONG Son of God, who

wast tried and tempted to

the uttermost, yet without sin; be

near me now with Thy strength

and give me the victory over this

evil desire that threatens to ruin

me. I am weak, O Lord, and full

of doubts and fears. There are

moments when I am afraid of my

self, when the world and the flesh

and the devil seem more powerful

than the forces of good. But now

I look to Thee in whom dwelleth

all the fulness of grace and might

and redemption. Blessed Saviour!

I take Thee afresh to be my

Refuge, my Covert, my Defence,

my strong Tower from the enemy.

Hear me and bless me now and

ever. Amen.

[226]

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In Time of Suffering

lff\ LORD, my God, I am in

Kls Thy hands, I resign myself

unreservedly to Thee. Relieve my

pain, or strengthen me to bear it.

O be not silent unto me, lest, if

Thou be silent, my faith should

die and my hope perish. Speak to

me and I ask no more. For I know

if Thou hearest me, then I have the

petitions I desire of Thee, through

Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen.

[227]

3 Poofe of drapers

Before Partaking at Holy

Communion

kEAVENLY Father, Thou art

Light and in Thee is no

darkness at all; enlighten my

mind in the knowledge of Thy

will. Thou art Life; send Thy

healing power through my body

and my soul. Thou art Love;

look on me so that my heart may

be opened to Thine and every veil

between Thee and me be burned

away. May I go to Thy Holy

Table and partake of Thy Bounty,

with a heart purified from sin,

with a conscience eased of its

guilt. Make my repentance bitter

that my love may be strong. Wash

me and make me clean that I may

worthily receive Thy Son Jesus

Christ in the Sacrament of His

passion and be united with Him,

[228]

g Pook of drapers

that I may abide in Him as the

branch abides in the Vine. Be

pleased, O Lord, to answer me

for his sake. Amen.

[229]

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After Partaking at Holy Co:

munion

TjjjLESSED art Thou, O G I

?P our Father. I thank Th

with joyful heart because Thi

hast vouchsafed to lead me into

the mystery of the blessedness of

Thy Holy Sacrament. I ha

taken into my hands the memoric.!

of the Saviour's dying love. He

would I consecrate myself ant

to Him; here would I make fre u

vows of fidelity to His cause; he

would I rise above all doubts ai i

fears and boldly say, "Lord, The ;

knowest that I love Thee." O

Bread and Wine of God, be The i

the joy and strength of my lif ,

now and evermore. Amen.

[230]

f

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McComb, Samuel M12

trod

AUTHOR

A book of prayers

TITLE

6130

fDATE

LOANED y~v (alio

SEP 2 8 19/

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